JP2009258816A - Charging information management system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with installation of a facility such as a private branch exchange by a line contractor, and to prevent illegal use. <P>SOLUTION: Terminal authentication information 112 is stored in a terminal 102, and user authentication information 107 is stored in a tamper-resistant secure device 101 communicable with the terminal 102. A management server 104 communicable with the terminal 102 includes: a terminal authentication means 118 deciding whether to authenticate the terminal 102 or not based on the terminal authentication information 112; a user authentication means 120 deciding whether to authenticate a user or not based on the user authentication information 107; and a charging information generation means 125 generating charging information based on line/terminal/user charging policy 128 including information related to charging policy of the terminal 102 and the user and communication history information 131 of the user when the terminal authentication means 118 and the user authentication means 120 decide that they perform the authentication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a billing information management system for managing billing information of a communication service using a terminal and a billing information management method of the billing information management system.

  Recently, communication services such as telephone, Internet, and IPTV are provided through a terminal / line of a friend's house connected to a communication network such as a fixed network, a street terminal / line, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a billing information management system that derives billing information for a user from a line contractor when using a communication service at a destination such as a hotel.

  The accounting information management system according to the above-described prior art will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a billing information management system according to the prior art. As shown in the figure, this billing information management system includes a terminal 901, a private branch exchange 902, a management server 903, and a communication network 904. Terminal 901 is connected to private branch exchange 902. The private branch exchange 902 is connected to the management server 903 via the communication network 904. The terminal 901 includes a communication control unit 905. The private branch exchange 902 includes a line identification unit 906, a communication control unit 907, a communication history management unit 908, and a user communication history information storage unit 909. The user communication history information storage unit 909 has user communication history information 910. The management server 903 includes a line identification unit 911, a communication control unit 912, a communication history management unit 913, a charging management unit 914, a line communication history information storage unit 915, and a charging information storage unit 917. The line communication history information storage unit 915 has line communication history information 916. The billing information storage unit 917 has billing information 918.

In such a billing information management system according to the prior art, the communication control means 907 in the private branch exchange 902 of the destination line contractor outputs a communication log for each line connected to the end of the private branch exchange 902 and manages it. There is a mechanism in which the communication history management unit 913 of the server 903 extracts history information such as a user's communication destination and communication time from the communication log. Further, by providing the private branch exchange 902, the use of the communication service can be identified for each line.
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  However, in the above-described prior art, the line contractor must install a facility such as the private branch exchange 902. In addition, the provided function is a function for identifying a line connected (branched) to the private branch exchange 902. When a user uses a line on another premises assigned separately, this use is not allowed. It cannot be identified and unauthorized use is possible.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is not necessary for a line contractor to install a facility such as a private branch exchange, and the charging information management system and charging information that can prevent unauthorized use The purpose is to provide a management method.

  In order to achieve this object, in the present invention, in a billing information management system for managing billing information of a communication service using a terminal, the terminal authentication information is stored in the terminal, and the tamper-resistant communication capable of communicating with the terminal is achieved. User authentication information is stored in a secure device, and a management server capable of communicating with the terminal determines whether to authenticate the terminal and the user based on the terminal authentication information and the user authentication information And when the authentication means determines to authenticate, based on the terminal, user charging policy, which is information related to the charging policy between the terminal and the user, and the communication history information of the user, A charging information generating means for generating charging information is provided.

  In this case, when the charging information generation means determines that the authentication means authenticates, the terminal, user charging policy, the user communication history information, the user charging destination information, and the management server The billing information may be generated based on a network provider billing policy that is information related to a billing policy of the network provider that manages the network.

  In these cases, the management server acquires charging condition information acquisition means for acquiring charging condition information that is information related to the charging conditions of the user from the terminal and user charging policy, and the charging condition information for the terminal. Charging condition information transmitting means for transmitting the information may be provided.

  In these cases, the secure device may be a device having a software token, an IC card, a SIM card, an SD memory card with a secure chip, a multimedia card, a USB token, a FeliCa chip, or a TPM. .

  In addition, in a billing information management method in a billing information management system for managing billing information of a communication service using a terminal, a management server capable of communicating with the terminal can communicate with the terminal authentication information stored in the terminal and the terminal An authentication step for determining whether to authenticate the terminal and the user based on user authentication information stored in a secure tamper-resistant device, and the management server authenticates in the authentication step A charging information generating step for generating the charging information based on the terminal, the user charging policy, and the communication history information of the user, which is information relating to the charging policy between the terminal and the user, It may be characterized by having.

  In this case, when the management server determines that the authentication unit authenticates, the charging information generation step includes the terminal, the user charging policy, the communication history information of the user, and the charging destination information of the user. And the billing information may be generated based on the billing policy of the network operator that is information related to the billing policy of the network operator who manages the management server.

  In these cases, the management server acquires a charging condition information acquisition step for acquiring charging condition information that is information related to the charging conditions of the user from the terminal and user charging policy, and the management server And charging condition information transmitting step for transmitting the charging condition information.

  In these cases, the secure device may be a device having a software token, an IC card, a SIM card, an SD memory card with a secure chip, a multimedia card, a USB token, a FeliCa chip, or a TPM. .

  In the billing information management system and billing information management method according to the present invention, the terminal and user are authenticated by the management server, the terminal, user billing policy, user communication history information, and user billing destination information Since the billing information is generated based on the above, it is not necessary for the line contractor to install a facility such as a private branch exchange, and unauthorized use can be prevented.

  Further, since the billing information is generated based on the network provider billing policy, the billing information can be automatically generated according to the billing policy of the network provider.

  First, the configuration of the billing information management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a billing information management system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, this accounting information management system includes a secure device 101, a terminal 102, a gateway 103, a management server 104, and a communication network 105. The secure device 101 is connected to the terminal 102, and the terminal 102 is connected to the gateway 103. The gateway 103 is connected to the management server 104 via the communication network 105.

  The secure device 101 is a device having a software token, IC card, SIM card, SD memory card with secure chip, multimedia card (MMC), portable secure device such as a USB token, FeliCa chip, TPM (Trusted Platform Module), etc. This is a terminal embedded secure device. The secure device 101 is managed by a communication service user. The secure device 101 includes a user authentication information storage unit 106. The user authentication information storage unit 106 is a storage unit that stores user authentication information 107. Here, the user authentication information 107 is information for authenticating the user, and is composed of, for example, a user ID, a password, and the like.

  The terminal 102 is, for example, a personal computer (PC), and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, hard disk, display, keyboard, mouse, and the like. In particular, a browser program is stored in the hard disk. Furthermore, a mobile terminal, a mobile phone with an Internet connection function, a PDA, and the like are included. The terminal 102 is managed by a line contractor. The terminal 102 includes a use start request information transmitting unit 108, a communication start request unit 109, and a terminal authentication information storage unit 111. The use start request information transmitting unit 108 transmits use start request information to the management server 104 when the user makes a request to start using the communication service by the terminal 102. Here, the use start request information is information that the user requests to start using the communication service by the terminal 102. The communication start request unit 109 transmits communication start request information to the management server 104 when the user requests communication start based on the charging condition information. Here, the communication start request information is information for a user to request communication start of communication service by the terminal 102. Further, the communication start request unit 109 ends the process when the user does not request the communication start based on the charging condition information. The terminal authentication information storage unit 111 is a storage unit that stores the terminal authentication information 112. Here, the terminal authentication information 112 is information for authenticating the terminal 102 and includes, for example, a terminal identifier, a serial number of the system drive, an entire capacity of the system drive, and the like.

  The gateway 103 mediates communication between the terminal 102 and the management server 104. The gateway 103 includes a line authentication information storage unit 113 and a communication end notification unit 134. The line authentication information storage unit 113 is a storage unit that stores the line authentication information 114. Here, the line authentication information 114 is information for authenticating the line, and is composed of, for example, a line identifier, a caller number, an IP address, and the like. The communication end notification unit 134 notifies the terminal 102 of the communication end when the communication end notification unit 110 is notified of the communication end from the management server 104.

  The management server 104 is, for example, a server computer, and has a CPU, ROM, RAM, hard disk, display, keyboard, mouse, and the like, and in particular, a browser program is stored in the hard disk. The management server 104 is managed by a network operator. The management server 104 includes line authentication information acquisition means 115, line authentication means 116, terminal authentication information acquisition means 117, terminal authentication means 118 (authentication means), user authentication information acquisition means 119, user authentication means 120 (authentication means). , Charging condition information acquisition means 121, charging condition information transmission means 122, communication end notification means 110, communication history information acquisition means 123, charging policy acquisition means 124, charging destination information acquisition means 125, charging information generation means 126, charging policy storage Unit 127, communication history information storage unit 130, and billing destination information storage unit 132.

  The line authentication information acquisition unit 115 acquires the line authentication information 114 from the gateway 103. The line authentication unit 116 determines whether to authenticate the line based on the line authentication information 114. Further, when the line authentication unit 116 determines that the line authentication unit 116 does not authenticate the line, the line authentication unit 116 displays, for example, a message “The line cannot be authenticated” on the terminal 102.

  The terminal authentication information acquisition unit 117 acquires the terminal authentication information 112 from the terminal 102 when the line authentication unit 116 determines to authenticate the line. The terminal authentication unit 118 determines whether to authenticate the terminal 102 based on the terminal authentication information 112. Further, when the terminal authenticating unit 118 determines that the terminal authenticating unit 118 does not authenticate the terminal 102, the terminal authenticating unit 118 displays, for example, a message “terminal cannot be authenticated” on the terminal 102.

  The user authentication information acquisition unit 119 acquires the user authentication information 107 from the secure device 101 when the terminal authentication unit 118 determines that the terminal 102 is authenticated. The user authentication unit 120 determines whether to authenticate the user based on the user authentication information 107. Further, when the user authentication unit 120 determines that the user authentication unit 120 does not authenticate the user, the user authentication unit 120 displays a message “User cannot be authenticated” on the terminal 102, for example.

  When the user authentication unit 120 determines to authenticate the user, the charging condition information acquisition unit 121 acquires the charging condition information from the line, the terminal, and the user charging policy 128. Here, the billing condition information is information related to the billing conditions of the user, and is composed of attributes of a billing condition (type) and billing condition (value) of a line, terminal, and user billing policy 128 described later. The charging condition information transmitting unit 122 transmits charging condition information to the terminal 102. The communication end notification unit 110 notifies the gateway 103 of the end of communication when the communication ends.

  The communication history information acquisition unit 123 acquires the communication history information 131 from the communication history information storage unit 130 based on the subscription ID.

  Here, the configuration of the communication history information 131 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of communication history information. As shown in the figure, it consists of attributes of subscription ID, communication time, and traffic. The subscription ID is subscription identification information and stores, for example, data of S1, S2, and S3. The communication time is information indicating the communication time, and for example, data of 1000 seconds, 2000 seconds, and 5000 seconds is stored. The communication amount is information indicating the data amount of communication, and for example, data of 500 packets, 3000 packets, and 20000 packets is stored.

  The charging policy acquisition unit 124 acquires the line, terminal, user charging policy 128, and network provider charging policy 129 from the charging policy storage unit 127 based on the subscription ID.

  Here, the configuration of the line, terminal, and user billing policy 128 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the line, terminal, and user billing policy. As shown in the figure, the line, terminal, and user billing policy 128 includes subscription ID, subscriber type, resource ID, target user, billing condition (type), billing condition (value), margin rate, and subscription contract attributes. It is composed of The resource ID is resource identification information, and stores data of L1 (line ID), L2 (line ID), L3 (line ID), T1 (terminal ID), and T2 (terminal ID), for example. The target user is information indicating a target user, for example, ANY (indicating a person other than himself / herself. The user is the same as the subscription data) and family data are stored. The billing condition (type) is information indicating the type of billing, and stores, for example, fixed billing, time billing, data amount billing, and free data. The billing condition (value) is information indicating a billing value. For example, data of 200 yen / time, 30 yen / minute, 0.03 yen / packet, 100 yen / time, 50 yen / time, and 0 yen are stored. Is done. The margin ratio is a value for calculating the margin (unit: yen) that the subscriber's line contractor must pay to the network operator, and is a percentage of the user's billing fee (unit:%) Indicated by For example, when the margin rate is 2% and the user's billing fee is 3000 yen, the margin is calculated as 60 yen. The subscription contract is information indicating a subscription contract between the subscriber and the network operator. For example, data of 3000 yen / month, 20 yen / minute, 0.02 yen / packet, 10 yen / time, 20 yen / minute is included. Remembered. Normally, the charging fee based on the subscription contract that the subscriber needs to pay to the network operator is based on the charging condition (type) and charging condition (value) that the user needs to pay to the subscriber. It is lower than the billing fee.

  In addition, the configuration of the network provider charging policy 129 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the network provider billing policy. As shown in the figure, the network operator charging policy 129 includes attributes of resource ID, fixed charging, time charging, data amount charging, and access number charging. Fixed billing, time billing, data amount billing, and access count billing are margin rates when the billing conditions (types) are fixed billing, time billing, data amount billing, and access count billing, respectively. That is, the margin rate is set based on the charging condition (type) data of the network operator charging policy 129. Further, the margin rate may be set based on data of attributes other than the charging condition (type) of the network operator charging policy 129.

  The charging destination information acquisition unit 125 acquires the charging destination information 133 from the charging destination information storage unit 132 based on the subscription ID.

  Here, the configuration of the billing destination information 133 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of billing destination information. As shown in the figure, the billing destination information 133 includes a subscription ID, a subscriber type, a billing type, and a billing destination attribute. The billing type is information indicating the type of contract, and stores, for example, single contract data and group contract data. The billing destination is information indicating the subscription ID of the billing billing destination, for example, data of S1, S2, S3, S5 is stored.

  The charging policy storage unit 127 is a storage unit that stores a line, a terminal, a user charging policy 128, and a network provider charging policy 129. The communication history information storage unit 130 is a storage unit that stores the communication history information 131. The billing destination information storage unit 132 is a storage unit that stores billing destination information 133.

  The billing information generating unit 126 generates billing information based on the line, terminal, user billing policy 128, communication history information 131, billing destination information 133, and network provider billing policy 129.

  Here, the configuration of the billing information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the billing information. As shown in the figure, the billing information is composed of attributes of subscription ID, resource ID, billing destination, and billing fee. The billing fee is information indicating a fee that the user needs to pay, and stores, for example, data of 400 yen, 1800 yen, 6000 yen, 100 yen, 250 yen, and 0 yen.

  The communication network 105 is a communication network such as the Internet, a public network, a dedicated line, and a mobile communication network.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 104 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the management server. As shown in the figure, the management server 104 includes a control unit 701 including a CPU 702, a ROM 703, and a RAM 704, an input device 705, an output device 706, an input / output control circuit 707, a charging policy storage unit 127, and a communication history information storage unit 130. A billing destination information storage unit 132 is provided, and these components are connected to each other via a system bus.

  The control unit 701 executes various arithmetic processes for realizing the management server 104. The CPU 702 is a central processing unit, and executes transfer and arithmetic processing based on a main program stored in the ROM 703, a program expanded in the RAM 704, data temporarily stored, and the like.

  The input device 705 is a data input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. With this input device 705, data can be input to the charging policy storage unit 127, the communication history information storage unit 130, and the charging destination information storage unit 132. The output device 706 is a display device such as an LCD or a CRT, or a printer. The input / output control circuit 707 performs control for executing data input / output with an external device.

  The accounting policy storage unit 127 is a storage unit that stores data as described above, and includes a memory, a hard disk, and the like. The billing policy storage unit 127 includes at least a line, a terminal, a user billing policy 128, and a network provider billing policy 129.

  As described above, the communication history information storage unit 130 is a storage unit that stores data, and includes a memory, a hard disk, and the like. The communication history information storage unit 130 has at least communication history information 131.

  As described above, the billing destination information storage unit 132 is a storage unit that stores data, and includes a memory, a hard disk, and the like. This billing destination information storage unit 132 has at least billing destination information 133.

  Next, the operation of the billing information management system shown in FIG. 1, that is, the billing information management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the accounting information management method according to the present invention.

  First, when the user makes a request to start using the communication service by the terminal 102, the use start request information transmitting unit 108 transmits use start request information to the management server 104 (step S801). Next, the line authentication information acquisition unit 115 acquires the line authentication information 114 from the gateway 103 (step S802). Next, the line authentication means 116 determines whether or not to authenticate the line based on the line authentication information 114 (step S803). Next, when the line authentication unit 116 determines to authenticate the line, the terminal authentication information acquisition unit 117 acquires the terminal authentication information 112 from the terminal 102 (step S804). On the other hand, when the line authenticating unit 116 determines that the line is not authenticated, the line authenticating unit 116 displays, for example, a message “Unable to authenticate the line” on the terminal 102 and ends the process. Next, the terminal authentication unit 118 determines whether or not to authenticate the terminal 102 based on the terminal authentication information 112 (step S805, authentication step). Next, when the terminal authentication unit 118 determines to authenticate the terminal 102, the user authentication information acquisition unit 119 acquires the user authentication information 107 from the secure device 101 (step S806). On the other hand, when the terminal authenticating unit 118 determines that the terminal 102 is not authenticated, the terminal authenticating unit 118 displays, for example, a message “terminal cannot be authenticated” on the terminal 102 and ends the process. Next, the user authentication unit 120 determines whether or not to authenticate the user based on the user authentication information 107 (step S807, authentication step). Next, when the user authentication unit 120 determines to authenticate the user, the charging condition information acquisition unit 121 acquires the charging condition information from the line, the terminal, and the user charging policy 128 (step S808, acquisition of charging condition information). Step). On the other hand, when the user authentication unit 120 determines that the user is not authenticated, the user authentication unit 120 displays a message “User cannot be authenticated” on the terminal 102, for example, and ends the process. Next, the accounting condition information transmitting unit 122 transmits the accounting condition information to the terminal 102 (step S809, accounting condition information transmitting step). Next, when the user requests communication start based on the charging condition information, the communication start request unit 109 transmits communication start request information to the management server 104 (step S810). On the other hand, when the user does not request the start of communication based on the charging condition information, the communication start request unit 109 ends the process. Next, communication between the terminal 102 and the communication partner is started (step S811). Next, when the communication is completed, the communication end notification unit 110 notifies the gateway 103 of the communication end (step S812). Next, when the end of communication is notified by the communication end notification unit 110, the communication end notification unit 134 notifies the terminal 102 of the end of communication. (Step S813). Next, the communication history information acquisition unit 123 acquires the communication history information 131 from the communication history information storage unit 130 based on the subscription ID (step S814). Next, the charging policy acquisition unit 124 acquires the line, terminal, user charging policy 128, and network operator charging policy 129 from the charging policy storage unit 127 based on the subscription ID (step S815). Next, the charging destination information acquisition unit 125 acquires the charging destination information 133 from the charging destination information storage unit 132 based on the subscription ID (step S816). Next, the billing information generating means 126 generates billing information based on the line, terminal, user billing policy 128, communication history information 131, billing destination information 133, and network provider billing policy 129 (step S817, billing). Information generation step).

  In the accounting information management system and accounting information management method described above, the management server 104 managed by the network operator authenticates the line, the terminal 102, and the user, and the communication history information of the user, the line, the terminal, and the user accounting. Since charging information is generated based on the policy 128 and the charging destination information of the user, it is not necessary for the line contractor to install a facility such as a private branch exchange, and a communication service is provided for each line, terminal 102, and user. Since the use of the system is identified, unauthorized use can be prevented.

  Further, since the billing information is generated based on the network provider billing policy 129, the billing information can be automatically generated according to the billing policy of the network provider.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above embodiment, Of course, a various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, the line, terminal, and user billing policy 128 is different from the communication partner's line, terminal, and user billing policy as in the case of using a free phone or a pay phone implemented as 0120 as a communication service. 128 may be included. For example, when the user uses the terminal 102 or the line at home, the line, terminal, and user billing policy 128 may be set so as not to generate an additional fee.

  The present invention can also be applied to the use of the Internet such as a hot spot.

It is a block diagram of the accounting information management system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of communication history information. It is a figure which shows the structure of a line | wire, a terminal, and a user charging policy. It is a figure which shows the structure of a network provider charging policy. It is a figure which shows the structure of charging destination information. It is a figure which shows the structure of accounting information. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a management server. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the accounting information management method which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the accounting information management system which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Secure device 102 ... Terminal 104 ... Management server 105 ... Communication network 107 ... User authentication information 112 ... Terminal authentication information 118 ... Terminal authentication means 120 ... User authentication means 121 ... Accounting condition information acquisition means 122 ... Transmission of accounting condition information Means 126: Billing information generating means 128 ... Line, terminal, user billing policy 129 ... Network carrier billing policy 131 ... Communication history information 133 ... Billing destination information

Claims (8)

In a billing information management system that manages billing information for communication services using terminals,
Store terminal authentication information in the terminal,
Store user authentication information in a tamper-resistant secure device that can communicate with the terminal,
A management server that can communicate with the terminal
Authentication means for determining whether to authenticate the terminal and the user based on the terminal authentication information and the user authentication information;
When the authentication unit determines to authenticate, the charging information is generated based on the terminal, user charging policy, and the communication history information of the user, which are information related to the charging policy between the terminal and the user. A billing information management system comprising billing information generation means. The charging information generation means manages the terminal, the user charging policy, the user communication history information, the user charging destination information, and the management server when it is determined that the authentication means authenticates. The billing information management system according to claim 1, wherein the billing information is generated based on a network provider billing policy that is information relating to a billing policy of a network provider. The management server is
Charging condition information acquisition means for acquiring charging condition information, which is information related to the charging conditions of the user, from the terminal and user charging policy;
The charging information management system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising charging condition information transmitting means for transmitting the charging condition information to the terminal. The secure device
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a device having a software token, an IC card, a SIM card, an SD memory card with a secure chip, a multimedia card, a USB token, a FeliCa chip, or a TPM. Billing information management system. In a billing information management method in a billing information management system for managing billing information of a communication service using a terminal,
Based on the terminal authentication information stored in the terminal and the user authentication information stored in the tamper-resistant secure device capable of communicating with the terminal, the management server capable of communicating with the terminal and the user An authentication step for determining whether to authenticate
When the management server determines to authenticate in the authentication step, based on the terminal, user billing policy, which is information on the billing policy between the terminal and the user, and the communication history information of the user, A billing information management method comprising: a billing information generation step for generating billing information. In the charging information generation step, when the management server determines that the authentication means authenticates, the terminal, the user charging policy, the communication history information of the user, the charging destination information of the user, 6. The billing information management method according to claim 5, wherein the billing information is generated based on a network provider billing policy that is information relating to a billing policy of a network provider that manages the management server. A charging condition information acquisition step in which the management server acquires charging condition information, which is information related to the charging condition of the user, from the terminal and user charging policy;
The charging information management method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the management server includes a charging condition information transmission step of transmitting the charging condition information to the terminal. The secure device
The device according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the device is a device having a software token, an IC card, a SIM card, an SD memory card with a secure chip, a multimedia card, a USB token, a FeliCa chip, or a TPM. Billing information management method.

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