JP2014135036A - Notification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a notification system capable of performing the notification of the validity/invalidity of change in the same method as the notification such as, for example, an invoice and a receipt of the charge is performed when payment means relating to the continuous payment of the charge for using and purchasing the service and the article is changed.SOLUTION: A notification system: stores and manages master data associated with notification means such as a client ID and payment means and a receipt of the charge; refers to the master data; and performs the notification in the same method as the notification means such the receipt shown in the master data in the case that a reply of the validity/invalidity of the change cannot be returned promptly when the change of the payment means is received via the communication such as the internet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for suitably performing various notifications to a customer.

  Traditionally, such as using public services such as electricity, gas, and water, using telephones and the Internet, using facilities and human resources services such as training facilities and cram schools, or regularly purchasing magazines and crops There are services and product sales that are provided by collecting fees.

  In addition, invoices, receipts, etc. are also notified regarding the collection of fees related to such services and product sales. In such a case, in addition to the notification by mail, the notification is currently made by various mail services or posting on a user-specific Web page by user ID login.

  In addition, with regard to the methods for customers to pay these fees, for example, automatic debits from bank accounts, credit payments, payments at collection agents such as convenience stores, service / product provider stores, etc., etc. Various payment methods such as payment by electronic payment are provided.

  And in the above-mentioned notice, the contents of the notice differ according to the difference of these payment means, for example. For example, in the case of automatic debiting from a bank account, there is no need for notification regarding billing, and only the contents related to receipt need be notified. On the other hand, in case of payment at a counter such as a convenience store, a two-dimensional code indicating information (billing ID, customer ID, collected amount, etc.) for enabling smooth payment by letting the counter terminal read is notified. There is a need.

  For this reason, the provider of the service or product keeps master data for managing which payment method is used for each customer and makes a notification related to the charge collection according to the management information. Yes. In addition, the method (notify by mail or e-mail) for performing the notification is often managed by master data.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a public fee electronic payment system configured so that various types of electronic payment can be performed on a communication network in payment of public service fees.

JP 2008-107928 A

  Here, for example, the payment means may be changed such that the customer A changes the payment of the fee from the payment at the convenience store to automatic deduction of the bank account. In such a case, the master data is rewritten according to information indicating that the change is permitted.

  In addition, in such a change of payment method, it is necessary to notify the customer that the application for payment change has been accepted and changed correctly, or that the change application has been accepted but the change is not accepted for some reason. There is. The notification is mainly made by mail or the like, but it is performed completely separately from the above-mentioned notification for charge collection and receipt.

  In other words, in addition to the fee payment method for each customer in the master data as described above, the notification method for invoices and receipts related to the charge collection is managed, but the notification regarding the change of the payment method There is a problem that the master data is not utilized.

  For this reason, for example, invoices and receipts for charges are notified by e-mail, but notification of responses when applying for a change of payment method (completion of change or incomplete change due to disapproval, etc.) is made by mail. It can happen. Then, it is assumed that a customer who thinks that the notification regarding the service or the product purchase will be sent by e-mail is not aware of the notification related to the change of the payment method sent by mail.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention holds and manages the master data as described above in which the customer ID is associated with the payment means for the fee and the notification means such as a receipt, and the change of the payment means is performed. If it is accepted via communication such as the Internet and it is not possible to immediately reply whether the change can be made or not, refer to the master data and notify in the same way as the notification means such as a receipt shown there. A notification system characterized by being configured as described above is provided.

  Specifically, a notification system for collecting charges for goods or services where charges are continuously collected from the same customer, whether continuous or intermittent, such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, and other products and services A hardware control unit that controls hardware for executing a plurality of notification means, a first customer information holding unit that holds a customer ID and a fee payment unit ID in association with each other, a customer ID and its customer A second customer information holding unit that holds and associates with a notification means for making a notification regarding billing or / and receipt to the bank, bank debit, credit payment, window payment, wide area communication network or other closed communication network Payment means holding section for holding a payment means ID that can be selected by the customer, such as payment in a built electronic settlement system or other payment, and payment means holding section A payment means change accepting unit that accepts, via communication, a change in the fee payment means ID held in the first customer information holding unit in association with the customer ID by selecting from among the held fee payment means ID And an availability obtaining unit that obtains execution feasibility information indicating whether the accepted fee payment means can be executed, and a notification to the customer indicating changeable, change completion, or non-changeable based on the execution availability information obtained by the availability obtaining unit Is acquired during the communication, the customer is notified via the communication, and when the notification to the customer is not acquired during the communication or / and when acquired during the communication, the second customer information is retained. A notification system having an execution command unit that causes a hardware control unit to execute a process for notification using a notification unit held in the unit.

  In addition, the notification means is a service or Web service similar to an email used in a mobile phone function, and the notification is configured to control the mobile phone function as hardware and to notify by email or a Web service at the time of notification. A system is also provided. Specifically, in addition to the above configuration, the notification means held in the second customer information holding unit includes at least one of a communication service and a web service used in a mobile phone function, and the hardware control unit includes Also provided is a notification system having SIM control means for controlling mobile phone functions as hardware.

  In addition, when the mobile phone function is controlled by the SIM control means in order to realize the hardware for notification, for example, transmission from one SIM control means in accordance with the upper limit restriction (transmission upper limit) of the number of transmissions per day by the mobile phone carrier. The number of possible notifications may be predetermined. That is, the required number of SIM control means is calculated from the number of transmissions per SIM control means and the notification destination customer.

  However, if this upper limit of transmission is changed due to individual circumstances such as a cellular phone carrier, the number of notifications that can be transmitted by one SIM control means changes, and the number of SIM control means that are required changes accordingly. Therefore, in order to accurately grasp the upper limit of the number of transmissions, a notification is sent on a trial basis, and it is necessary for sending notifications such as invoices and receipts based on the upper limit of outgoing calls obtained from the upper limit error of the test notification. Also provided is a notification system further comprising a function of calculating the number of SIM control means.

  Specifically, a notification system having the above-described configuration and further having a plurality of SIM control means for controlling the hardware having the mobile phone function, which is a test destination address other than the customer Time for determining the upper limit of outgoing calls from a single mobile phone determined by the mobile phone carrier for a plurality of test addresses by controlling the hardware having the mobile phone function by holding a test address holding unit that holds the address A test execution unit that executes test notification while sequentially increasing the number of transmissions within the frame, an upper limit error receiving unit that receives an upper limit error indicating that the transmission could not be performed because the transmission number exceeded the upper limit of transmission, and received Based on the upper limit error, a transmission upper limit calculation unit that calculates a transmission upper limit per SIM control means, a notification required number holding unit that holds a required number of notifications, A SIM control means necessary number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM controller to be run from the notification required number and outgoing upper limit to provide a notification system with.

  Also, instead of grasping the upper limit for sending notifications on a trial basis, the upper limit for outgoing calls is determined from the upper limit error for actual notification transmission to the customer, and the number of SIM control means necessary for sending notifications such as invoices and receipts is determined. Also provided is a notification system further comprising a function to calculate.

  Specifically, a notification system having the above-described configuration and further having a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having the mobile phone function, wherein the hardware control unit is a hardware having a mobile phone function. The number of notifications transmitted and the number of notifications transmitted in a time frame that determines the upper limit of outgoing calls from a single SIM control means determined by the mobile phone carrier. An upper limit error receiving unit that receives an upper limit error indicating that transmission could not be performed due to exceeding the transmission upper limit, and a transmission upper limit calculating unit that calculates a transmission upper limit per SIM control unit based on the received upper limit error A required notification number holding unit for holding the required notification number, and SIM control for calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated from the upper limit of transmission and the required notification number Providing a stage necessary number calculating unit, a notification system with.

  Also, for example, the number of SIM control means required for sending notifications such as invoices and receipts based on the obtained upper limit of transmission, for example, by directly or indirectly acquiring the upper limit of outgoing calls such as mobile phone carriers There is also provided a notification system further comprising a function for calculating. Specifically, it is a notification system having the above-described configuration and further having a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having the mobile phone function, and a predetermined system defined by the mobile phone carrier related to the mobile phone function A transmission upper limit acquisition unit for acquiring a transmission upper limit from a single SIM control means within a time frame, a notification required number holding unit for holding the required number of notifications, and SIM control to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the required number of notifications There is also provided a notification system having a SIM control means required number calculation unit for calculating the number of means.

  Also provided is a notification system having a function of reassigning transmission destinations assigned to each SIM control means when the number of necessary SIM control means changes as described above. Specifically, a transmission destination address management unit that has the above-described configuration and manages a transmission destination address of the notification to the customer, the calculated transmission upper limit per one SIM control means, and the number of necessary SIM control means Accordingly, a notification system including an address assignment determination unit that determines assignment of a destination address managed by the destination address management unit to the SIM control unit is provided.

  In addition to notifications related to fee payments such as invoices and receipts as described above, notifications regarding changes to the fee payments, and notifications such as advertisements for new services and new products that are unrelated to fee payments. Conceivable. Even in such a case, when the mobile phone function is controlled by the SIM control means as the notification hardware, the problem of a change in the number of necessary SIM control means accompanying a change in the outgoing call upper limit can also occur.

  Therefore, master data that associates customer IDs with payment means and notification means such as receipts is stored and managed, and the upper limit of transmission is grasped separately from the configuration that performs notification related to charge payment and change of payment means Thus, a notification system having a function of calculating the number of SIM control means necessary for transmitting notifications such as advertisements is also provided.

  Specifically, it is a notification system that notifies a customer by using a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having a mobile phone function, and is a test destination address other than the customer A test address holding unit for holding a test address, and a transmission upper limit from a single SIM control means determined by a mobile phone carrier for a plurality of test addresses by controlling the hardware having the mobile phone function A test execution unit that executes test notification while sequentially increasing the number of transmissions within a time frame that determines the upper limit error information that receives the upper limit error information indicating that the transmission could not be performed because the number of transmissions exceeded the upper limit of transmission Based on the received upper limit error information, a transmission upper limit calculation unit for calculating a transmission upper limit per SIM control means, and a notification requirement that holds the required number of notifications. The number holding unit, to provide a notification system with a SIM control means necessary number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM controller to be run from the notification required number and the outgoing upper.

  A notification system for notifying a customer by using a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having a mobile phone function, and controlling the hardware having the mobile phone function to A notification transmitter that transmits a number of notifications corresponding to the upper limit of transmission within a time frame that determines the upper limit of transmission from a single SIM control means determined by the carrier, and transmitted because the number of transmitted notifications exceeds the upper limit of transmission An upper limit error information receiving unit that receives upper limit error information indicating that the transmission has failed, a transmission upper limit calculation unit that calculates a transmission upper limit per SIM control unit based on the received upper limit error information, and a required number of notifications A notification required number holding unit for holding, and a SIM control means required number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM control means to operate from the upper limit of transmission and the required number of notifications. Temu also provided.

  In addition, the notification system performs notification to a customer by using a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having a mobile phone function, and is a predetermined system defined by the mobile phone carrier related to the mobile phone function A transmission upper limit acquisition unit for acquiring a transmission upper limit from a single SIM control unit within a time frame, a notification required number holding unit for holding a required number of notifications, and a SIM control unit to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the required number of notifications And a SIM control means required number calculation unit for calculating the number of the notifications.

  Further, in addition to the above configuration, according to the transmission destination address management unit that manages the transmission destination address of the notification to the customer, the upper limit of transmission per SIM control means and the number of necessary SIM control means, There is also provided a notification system including an address assignment determination unit that determines assignment of a transmission destination address managed by the transmission destination address management unit to the SIM control means.

  With the present invention having the above-described configuration, when a payment method is changed for continuous fee payment for using or purchasing a service or a product, a notification of whether or not the change can be made, for example, a bill of charges, It can be done in the same way as a notification such as a receipt. Therefore, the customer can know the change of the payment means with the same feeling as a receipt or an invoice, and can expect an effect that the situation such as not being aware of the notification is less likely to occur.

  Further, when the notification is realized by the control by the SIM control means of the mobile phone function, it is necessary as a whole even if the transmission upper limit is changed by providing a configuration for grasping the transmission upper limit in one SIM control means. The number of SIM control means can be calculated, and notifications such as invoices and receipts can be sent to the entire customer.

  Similarly, by providing a configuration for grasping the transmission upper limit in one SIM control means, even if the transmission upper limit is changed, the number of SIM control means required as a whole is calculated, and in addition to invoices and receipts Notifications such as advertisements can also be sent to the entire customer.

Schematic diagram for explaining an example of notification when the fee payment means by the notification system of the first embodiment is changed The figure which shows an example of the functional block in the notification system of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the payment means master data hold | maintained at the 1st customer information holding | maintenance part of the notification system of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the notification means master data hold | maintained at the 2nd customer information holding part of the notification system of Example 1. The figure showing an example of the Web page for accepting the change of charge payment means ID of the notification system of Example 1 via communication. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions in the notification system of Example 1. The flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the notification system of Example 1. The figure which shows an example of the functional block in the notification system of Example 2. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions in the notification system of Example 2. The flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the notification system of Example 2. The figure which shows an example of the functional block in the notification system of Example 3. The flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the notification system of Example 3. The figure which shows an example of the functional block in the notification system of Example 4. The flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the notification system of Example 4.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, claims 1 and 2 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claim 3 will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, claim 4 will be mainly described. In the fourth embodiment, claim 5 will be mainly described.

Example 1
<Overview>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of notification when a payment means for a fee that is required to be continuously paid for receiving services and products by the notification system of this embodiment is changed. In the following description, an example in which the notification system of the present embodiment is configured by cooperation of a plurality of devices such as an electric power company server, a bank account database, and a database indicating notification means for each customer will be described.

  As shown in this figure, for example, when customer A, who had been paying the electricity usage fee at the counter at the convenience store, opened a bank account, he decided to change it to automatic withdrawal from the bank account. Therefore, the customer A uses the Internet connection terminal to access the homepage of the power supply service company, and obtains information such as an ID and a bank account number assigned to the customer when providing the power service on the predetermined payment method change page. The information is input and transmitted to a server or the like managed by the power service provider (1. Payment application change application).

  Then, the electric power company server makes an inquiry to a database or the like that manages credit information related to the bank account by using the account number as a key to confirm whether automatic debiting by the account is possible (2. Inquiry about whether change is possible).

  Then, if it is determined that automatic debiting by the account is possible / impossible based on this inquiry, that is, the payment method can be changed / impossible, the power company server determines the result. The following processing for notification is performed.

  For example, if access for change application is still ongoing at this time, the customer is notified of this by displaying a text indicating the result on the accessing homepage (3. Result notification 1) .

  At this time, if the access for the change application has already been completed, a hardware control process for performing notification by a method different from the response to the access is executed. Alternatively, even if the access is ongoing, a hardware control process for performing notification by a method different from the response to the access may be executed as a formal notification. Specifically, a database including a master table indicating a notification method such as an invoice or a receipt for each customer, which is separately managed by the power management company, is referred to (4. identification of notification means).

  For example, if it is specified that the customer A is notified by mail of an invoice used for payment at a convenience store, the printer, which is the hardware for the mail, is controlled. Output a control command to Alternatively, if it is specified that the bill is notified to the customer A by “SMS (Short Message Service)”, a communication device having a mobile phone function as hardware for the SMS transmission is specified. A control instruction to be controlled is output (5. control of hardware).

  Then, by controlling the hardware, the customer A can be notified of whether or not the payment method can be changed by the same notification means as the invoice (6. Result notification 2). is there.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the notification system of the present embodiment. The “notification system” of the present embodiment is a notification system for collecting charges for goods or services that are continuously collected from the same customer regardless of whether they are continuous or intermittent. , For example, public services such as electricity, gas, water, telephone use, internet use, attending lessons at cram schools and sports gyms, etc. It is done. The notification for collecting the fee includes, for example, a notification such as an invoice, a receipt, and a reminder for fee payment.

  The functional blocks of the system described below can be realized as a combination of hardware and software. Specifically, if a computer is used, a CPU, a main memory, a bus, or a secondary storage device (a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, a storage medium such as a CD or a DVD, a read drive for the medium, etc.), information Input devices used for input, printing equipment, display devices, other hardware components such as external peripheral devices, interfaces for external peripheral devices, communication interfaces, driver programs for controlling these hardware, Other examples include application programs and user interface applications. Then, by CPU processing according to the program developed on the main memory, the data input from the input device or other interface and held in the memory or hard disk is processed and stored, An instruction for controlling the software is generated. Alternatively, the functional blocks of this system may be realized by dedicated hardware.

  In addition, this system may be realized by a single physical device that includes all of the components described later, or by cooperation through short-distance / distance communication between a plurality of physical devices. Also good. Further, when there are a plurality of physical devices, the one managing each physical device may be a single corporation or a natural person, or each may be managed and operated by a completely different person. For example, the service provider (electric power company) manages the server that performs the master data retention management in the above outline example, and the system integrator or the like manages the server and the notification hardware related to the notification of the payment or payment means change. , And so on.

  In addition, each embodiment described in the present specification can be realized not only as a system but also as a method. Moreover, a part of such an apparatus can be configured as software. Furthermore, a software product used to cause a computer to execute such software and a recording medium on which the product is fixed are naturally included in the technical scope of each embodiment described in this specification (this specification The same throughout.)

  As shown in FIG. 2, the “notification system” (0200) of the present embodiment includes a “hardware control unit” (0201), a “first customer information holding unit” (0202), “Customer Information Holding Unit” (0203), “Payment Means Holding Unit” (0204), “Payment Means Change Accepting Unit” (0205), “Availability Acquiring Unit” (0206), and “Execution Command Unit” (0207) And).

  The “hardware control unit” (0201) has a function of controlling hardware for executing a plurality of notification means, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a hardware control program, or the like.

  Note that “notification” in the notification means is a notification for collecting charges for goods or services for which charges are collected as described above, and includes, for example, notifications relating to charges, reminders, and receipts. The “notification means” for performing such notification is, for example, SMS (Short Message Service), e-mail, or other electronic communication means similar to e-mail, or login with a user ID on a homepage. The user-specific notification Web page to be displayed is configured, and notification means by the user-specific notification Web page, notification by mail or direct visit by a visitor, and the like can be mentioned.

  Also, the hardware controlled for this may vary depending on the notification means. For example, if the communication means is SMS or e-mail, a communication device having a mobile phone function or an Internet connection function may be mentioned. If the means is a web page, a web server can be used. In addition, if the notification means is mail, a printing device for printing a mailed item may be cited. If the visitor is a direct visit, a mobile terminal device used by the visitor for browsing or presenting information may be cited. .

When the notification means includes at least a communication service and a web service used for the mobile phone function, the hardware control means may include a “SIM control means” that controls the mobile phone function as hardware. . "SIM control means" is means for controlling hardware using a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, and by this means, such as SMS and mail provided by a mobile phone carrier with a SIM card. Notifications can be provided by Web services such as various communication services and mobile phone sites.
The SIM control means may be configured to control hardware using a single SIM card, or configured to control a plurality of hardware with each SIM card using a plurality of SIM cards. It may be. In the latter case, it is preferable that the number of SIM cards can be grasped.

  The hardware control unit controls the various kinds of hardware as described above to notify the customer for collection of the charges for goods or services such as bills and receipts.

  The “first customer information holding unit” (0202) has a function of holding first customer information, which is information in which a customer ID and a fee payment means ID are associated with each other. For example, the first customer information holding unit (0202) is a flash memory, HDD, or other storage device. Can be realized.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of payment means master data (first customer information) held in the first customer information holding unit and associated with a customer ID and a fee payment means ID. As shown in this figure, for example, customer A identified by customer ID: U001 is managed in association with window payment at a convenience store, for example, as a payment method for power charges, and is identified by customer ID: U002. For example, the customer B is managed in association with payment by automatic deduction from a bank account as a means for paying the electric charge. Further, as shown in the figure, the first customer information holding unit may have a form in which the customer ID and the payment method are held in a one-to-one relationship, and is used when the balance of the bank account is not sufficient, for example. A plurality of payment means may be held in association with one customer ID, for example, by setting a selection condition or priority order such that the second payment means is “window payment”.

  By referring to such payment means master data, the hardware control unit described above notifies, for example, customer A with a bill for payment at the window regarding various notifications related to the collection of charges by hardware control. It is necessary to attach a two-dimensional code indicating the billing ID and billing amount for smooth payment at the counter to the billing notification, and because it is automatically withdrawn for customer B As long as the balance is sufficient, it is not necessary to make a billing notification, and it is possible to grasp the fact that only a notification relating to the receipt of automatic deduction is necessary, and to execute the notification in a suitable form.

  The “second customer information holding unit” (0203) has a function of holding second customer information, which is information in which a customer ID is associated with notification means for notifying the customer of billing or / and receipt. For example, it can be realized by a flash memory, an HDD, or another storage device.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification means master data (second customer information) held in the second customer information holding unit and associated with a customer ID and a notification means. In this example, the payment means master data and the notification means master data shown in FIG. 3 are used as separate table data, and for example, a relational database with a customer ID as a primary key is used. Instead of the above, the above-mentioned two master data may be integrated, and table data in which payment means and notification means are associated with the customer ID may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, customer A identified by customer ID: U001 is associated with “SMS” as a notification means for notification relating to, for example, billing, and the destination address “ "090xxxxxxxx" is also associated. Also, customer B identified by customer ID: U002 is associated with “Web service (user-specific notification Web page)” as a notification means for notification related to receipt, for example, and a user for accessing the Web page For example, IDs and passwords are managed in association with each other.

  Then, referring to the notification means master data indicating the second customer information and the payment means master data indicating the first customer information as shown in FIG. 3, for example, since the customer A is a convenience store window payment, A billing notice with a two-dimensional code for payment is sent by SMS, while customer B is paying by automatic debit from a bank account, so a Web page is posted that shows information such as the amount of receipt. Can be performed.

  The notification means held in the second customer information holding unit may be configured to include at least one of a communication service (such as SMS) and a web service used in the mobile phone function as in the above example. good. In that case, it is preferable to have a SIM control means for controlling the cellular phone function as hardware described later. In addition to SMS, communication services used in the mobile phone function include, for example, services similar to e-mail and mail provided as functions in various application software, voice message transmission service, and the like.

  Further, the notification means may be other than the notification by the communication service or Web service used in the mobile phone function as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, “notification by mail” is associated as a notification method for the customer C, and “direct visit by a visitor” is associated as a notification method for the customer D.

  The “payment means holding unit” (0204) has a function of holding a customer-selectable fee payment means ID, and can be realized by, for example, a flash memory, HDD, or other storage device. The fee payment means ID held here is, for example, bank withdrawal, credit payment, window payment, payment with an electronic payment system constructed in a wide area communication network or other closed communication network, or other payments, etc. Is mentioned. Note that the wide area communication network includes a WAN (Wide Area Network) network / Internet network, and the closed communication network includes an interbank communication network and a mobile phone carrier network.

  Then, the above-mentioned various fee payment means IDs held here are presented to the customer, and the customer is made to select a desired fee payment means ID from among them.

  The “payment means change accepting portion” (0205) selects the fee payment means ID held in the payment means holding portion, and the charge held in the first customer information holding portion in association with the customer ID. The payment means ID can be changed via communication, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, main memory, communication circuit, customer input terminal, payment means change acceptance program, or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Web page for accepting the change of the fee payment means ID via communication. For example, the customer A thinks that he / she has changed the automatic payment from the bank account to what has been paid for at the convenience store until now, and accesses the homepage of the electric company using a portable terminal or the like. Then, when the link in the homepage is followed and the fee payment means ID change application page is accessed, the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the mobile terminal of customer A.

  Then, along with this screen display, the customer A selects “bank withdrawal” from the input field configured such that the various payment means held in the payment means holding unit described above can be selected using a pull-down menu, etc. Input various necessary information such as the ID of the bank account that was previously notified and the account number of the bank account to be used by the change. Further, at this time, a change input field for the notification means may be provided to accept a change application for the notification means.

  Then, when a confirmation button or a transmission button on the screen is clicked by a user operation, the payment means change accepting unit of the present embodiment accepts information input in these screens.

  “Availability acquisition unit” (0206) has a function of acquiring execution availability information, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a communication circuit, a availability acquisition program, and the like. The “executability information” refers to information indicating whether or not the accepted fee payment means can be executed. For example, a query is sent to a database that holds customer contract information, etc. regarding the payment means to be changed, and the response result Information acquired as. Further, the execution availability information may be information indicating whether or not the fee payment means ID to be changed is executable, or may be information for determining the availability.

  Specifically, if the change payment method is “bank withdrawal”, there is actually an account indicated by the account number entered in the database for managing credit information of the bank account, or the account Inquiries about how much balance is sufficient / sufficiency, and as a reply, information indicating that there is an account with sufficient balance, information indicating that there is no account / insufficient balance, information on credit, or such information Information indicating whether or not bank withdrawal can be executed based on the original information is acquired as executable information.

  Alternatively, if the changed payment means is “credit payment”, for example, the user makes an inquiry to a database or the like that manages information related to credit contracts using information such as the input credit card ID as a key, and the user surely confirms with the credit carrier. Information indicating whether or not a contract is made, information related to credit, information indicating whether or not credit payment can be executed based on the information, and the like are acquired as execution availability information.

  In addition, if the change payment means is “window payment”, basically, it is possible to obtain the execution availability information indicating that “change is possible”. For example, the address information of the customer is input and the address is inputted. Information indicating whether or not there is a shop where payment can be made in the vicinity, information used for the determination, and the like may be acquired as execution availability information.

  If the changed payment information is “other various electronic payments”, a contract for using the service is entered into the database of the service company providing the electronic payment service using the entered service ID or customer name as a key. Inquires about whether or not there is a bank account / credit contract to be used in the electronic settlement, and sends a reply to the database that manages information related to the bank account and credit contract. That is, it is acquired as availability information.

  Note that the above is an example, and there is no particular limitation on the inquiry destination, the inquiry method, the contents of the execution availability information obtained as a reply, and it may be realized in various ways depending on the fee payment means.

  Then, the payment means changeability determination result determined using the execution feasibility information acquired in this way is the same means as the notification means related to charge payment request and receipt as follows in the notification system of the present embodiment. It is also possible to be notified by.

  "Execution command part" (0207), when the notification to the customer indicating change possible, change completion or change impossible based on the execution availability information acquired by the availability acquisition unit is acquired during the communication, via the communication If the notification to the customer is not acquired during the communication, and / or if the notification is acquired during the communication, the notification means stored in the second customer information holding unit is used for notification. It has a function of causing the hardware control unit to execute processing, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, an execution instruction program, or the like.

  Specifically, when the customer terminal obtains a determination result indicating that the change is possible or complete / impossible while the access to the change application Web page or the like is being made in order to change the payment method, the gain is obtained. The customer is notified of the result such as whether the change is made or not as a response to the access. Then, on the screen of the customer terminal, Web page transition, pop-up display, and the like are executed, so that the customer can know the change availability result.

  In addition, when access to the change application Web page or the like has already been disconnected at the timing when the determination result indicating that the change is possible or completion / impossibility is obtained, a notification by a response to the access as described above is issued. Since it is not possible, the customer may be notified by another method. Alternatively, even when the change application Web page is being accessed, the customer may be notified by a method other than the response to the access as a notification of the official change permission / inhibition result.

  Specifically, referring to the notification means master data (second customer information in which the customer ID and the notification means are associated) as shown in FIG. 4, the notification means associated with the customer ID as a key, that is, to the customer The notification means for performing billing related to fee payment or notification of receipt is specified. And the execution command with respect to a hardware control part is output so that the hardware control which performs notification by the same means as the notification regarding the specified claim or receipt may be performed.

  For example, if the specified notification means is SMS, e-mail, etc., various communication devices having a mobile phone function and an Internet communication function are used as hardware, and a fixed sentence for billing and receipt, information on customer fee collection, etc. Control is performed so that the message body is generated based on the message, and further, the communication device performs SMS or e-mail transmission processing using the message generated for the destination managed by the communication means master data as the body. An execution instruction for the hardware control unit is output.

  Further, if the notification means is posted on a Web page, the Web server is used as hardware to generate a notification Web page for the customer, login management, etc. based on information related to customer fee collection. An execution instruction for the hardware control unit is output so that the control performed in step S3 is executed.

  If the notification means is mail, the message body generated based on the standard text for billing and receipts, information related to customer fee collection, etc., and the address indicating the customer's address and name, using the printing device as hardware Information indicating a label or the like is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and an execution instruction for the hardware control unit is output so that the printing apparatus executes control that enables batch printing based on the information. Alternatively, the hardware control unit is configured so that the terminal device of the person in charge of mail is used as hardware, and control is performed so that an instruction to perform mailing is output on the terminal device based on information transmitted to the terminal. The execution instruction for is output.

  In addition, if the notification means is a direct visit notification by a visitor, information such as details relating to the customer's fee collection or the customer as hardware terminal that the visitor uses for browsing or presenting information An execution command to the hardware control unit is output so that control is performed such that the address and name of the user are acquired and displayed on the mobile terminal device of the visitor.

  In this way, when the change of the fee payment means is accepted from the customer, the notification of whether or not the change can be made can be executed in the same manner as the notification of the charge bill or receipt.

  In addition to the above notification, in the notification system according to the present embodiment, when the determination result of whether or not the charge payment means can be changed is changeable, the payment means master data (the first customer in which the customer ID and the charge payment means ID are associated with each other) Information) is used to change the fee payment means ID associated with the customer ID.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in the notification system when the above functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the notification process of the result of whether or not to change the payment method received from the customer will be described using this figure.

  As shown in this figure, the notification system includes a “CPU” (0601) and a “main memory” (0602) for executing arithmetic processing. Also, “HDD” (0603) holding various information and programs, “communication circuit” (0604), “SIM card” (0605) for controlling hardware for notification, “I / O (input / output)” G) circuit "(0606). They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  In addition, each program such as a hardware control program, a payment means change acceptance program, a permission acquisition program, and an execution instruction program is appropriately read in the “main memory”, and “CPU” refers to the read program, Various arithmetic processes are executed according to the procedure indicated by the program, and control commands for the above hardware configurations are output. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the “main memory” and “HDD”, and in the arithmetic processing of the “CPU”, the address is specified and the stored data is accessed to access the data. It is possible to perform the arithmetic processing used.

  As for the notification system described here, each hardware configuration and each program may be included in one server device, or distributed / arranged in a plurality of server devices and other devices. It may be realized by a collaborative process, and there may be a plurality of managers for each device.

  First, for example, as a database used by a provider of services and products such as an electric power company, first customer information in which a customer ID is associated with a fee payment means ID of the customer, and a notification means for notifying the customer Master data for each customer including the associated second customer information is registered in “HDD”. In addition, bank withdrawals, credit payments, window payments, payments using electronic payment systems built in communication networks, etc., which the service provider accepts as a fee payment method (that is, a method that allows payment) The ID is similarly registered in “HDD”. The registration of these information includes various forms such as registration by operator input and registration by acquiring from an external server device via communication.

  Then, for example, if it is determined by the calculation process of the “CPU” based on the current date and time information that the predetermined date for sending the bill for collecting the service fee is reached, the “CPU” The wear control program is interpreted, and the fee payment means ID for each customer is specified by referring to the first customer information of the master data accordingly. Then, a bill or the like is generated according to the specified fee payment means ID, and a hardware control process for notifying the customer of the generated bill or the like is executed.

Specifically, in the case of an invoice notification, usage details information including a billing ID and a charge to be paid by the customer is acquired. Also, if “payment payment” is indicated in the fee payment means ID, the “CPU” uses image information obtained by converting the billing ID, payment fee, etc. into a two-dimensional barcode in order to make payment at the window smooth. It may be generated. Further, if “bank withdrawal” is shown in the fee payment means ID, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the hardware control processing related to the bill notification is not executed because the bill is not automatically notified because it is an automatic withdrawal.
Subsequently, the “CPU” refers to the second customer information of the master data held in the “HDD”, and specifies the means for notifying the customer. For example, if the notification means is SMS, a control command for controlling the “communication device” having a mobile phone function to transmit an invoice or the like by SMS is transmitted using “SIM card”. Output from "O circuit". The acquired usage details information and the image information of the two-dimensional barcode may be output to the communication device in a form included in the control command, or separately from the control command from the “I / O circuit” etc. It is good also as a structure output to these. Also, information such as a destination address associated with the specified notification means is included in the control command or separately output from the “I / O circuit” or the like to the communication device using the “SIM card”. .

  The “communication device” generates bill data using the acquired billing ID and usage details information, or a two-dimensional barcode image if payment is made at the counter, in response to a control command using the SIM card. The generated invoice data is notified by SMS with the acquired transmission destination address as the destination.

  Furthermore, for example, when a customer's mobile terminal accesses a Web page prepared by a service or product provider such as an electric power company, the “CPU” interprets the payment method change acceptance program and accordingly displays it on the customer's terminal. A Web page screen for requesting change of the payment method of the fee is displayed. Note that the list of payment methods and pull-down menus of selection candidates presented to the customer on the change application Web page screen are based on the fee payment device ID registered and held in “HDD” shown in the figure. Generated. Information related to the application for changing the fee payment entered on the application screen (customer ID, fee payment means ID to be changed, etc.) is received by the notification system via the “communication circuit” and stored in the “main memory”. Is done.

  Then, the “CPU” interprets the availability acquisition program, and outputs an inquiry as to whether or not the fee payment means accepted in the change application is executable from the “communication circuit” to a predetermined external database or the like according to the interpretation result. . For example, if the charge payment method to be changed is “Bank account automatic withdrawal”, the account number included in the information related to the change application is keyed to the database that manages credit information related to the bank account. Is output. As a response to the inquiry, the presence / absence information of the corresponding account, the balance information of the corresponding account, the credit information, etc. received via the “communication circuit” are stored in the “main memory” as executable information.

  Then, whether or not the execution possibility information satisfies a predetermined condition such as “the account is present” and “the balance is equal to or greater than a threshold” is determined by the calculation processing of “CPU”, and the execution possibility information is If the condition is satisfied, a determination result that the charge payment means can be changed is output, and if the condition is not satisfied, a determination result that the change is impossible is output.

  Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the execution instruction program, and in order to notify the customer of the determination result such as changeable / impossible, first, whether or not the customer's terminal is still accessing the Web page is determined. For example, it is determined with reference to session information and the like, and if it remains accessed, information for displaying the result of changeability is returned to the customer terminal as a response to the access, for example, by page transition or pop-up display. Note that the information returned here may be information indicating that the change has actually been completed in accordance with not only the determination result of changeability but also the determination result of changeability.

  Then, the customer terminal displays result information for the change application, such as whether or not the change is possible or the completion of the change, on the screen, and the customer can know whether or not the change of the applied fee payment means is permitted.

  In addition, in this notification system, regardless of whether or not the notification of the change availability result by the response to the web access for the change application has been executed, or in response to receipt of information indicating that the notification could not be made Thus, the following processing is performed in order to notify the notification of the change possibility determination result and the change completion accompanying the change notification using the same notification means as the charge collection request or the receipt notification.

That is, the “CPU” interprets the hardware control program, refers to the second customer information of the master data held in the “HDD” according to the interpretation result, and associates the customer ID as a notification partner with the customer ID as a key. Identify the notification means. If the specified notification means is SMS, e-mail, or the like, the “CPU” executes processing for generating a message body based on a fixed sentence related to billing and receipt, information related to collection of a customer's fee, and the like.
Then, using the “SIM card”, a control command for controlling to perform SMS or e-mail transmission processing with the generated message as the body, with the destination address associated with the specified notification means as the destination Output from the "I / O circuit" to the communication device. Note that, as in the case of the above-described invoice notification, information such as a message body may be output to the communication device in a form included in the control command, or from an “I / O circuit” or the like separately from the control command. It is good also as a structure output to a communication apparatus.
Of course, if the hardware to be controlled according to the notification means does not use the “SIM card”, the control command may be directly output to the hardware from the “I / O circuit” or the like.

  In a communication device having a mobile phone function or the like, an SMS is transmitted to the customer terminal via the mobile phone network in accordance with this control command, and the customer pays the fee by displaying the SMS on the customer terminal. This means that the result of whether or not the means can be changed can be known by the same notification means as for billing or receipt.

  If the change permission result is changeable or changeable, “CPU” is registered in the master data of “HDD” in association with the customer ID according to the interpretation result of the second customer information change program (not shown). The process of updating / changing / registering the item of the fee payment means ID being performed is performed.

<Process flow>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the notification system according to the present exemplary embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, in order to hold the customer ID and the fee payment means ID in association with each other, the customer ID is recorded in the first customer information holding unit (first customer information holding step S0701). The information is recorded in the second customer information holding unit so as to be held in association with the notification means for making a notification regarding billing or / and receipt (second customer information holding step S0702). Of course, the first customer information holding unit and the second customer information holding unit may be recorded as the same holding unit in association with a customer ID, a fee payment unit ID, and a notification unit related to billing or receipt.

  It also holds customer-selectable fee payment means ID such as bank withdrawals, credit payments, window payments, electronic payment systems built on wide area networks or other closed communication networks, or other payments. Therefore, it is recorded in the payment means holding unit (payment means holding step S0703).

  And when performing billing related to fee payment or notification of receipt, for example, it has a mobile phone function so as to make a notification by the notification means associated with the customer ID held in the second customer information holding unit Hardware such as a communication device is controlled (hardware control step 1S0704).

  Further, for example, by selecting from among fee payment means IDs held in the payment means holding unit by using a change payment means change application Web page in the service provider's home page, the customer ID When the change of the fee payment means ID held in the first customer information holding unit is received via communication (payment means change acceptance step S0705), for example, by inquiring to an external bank server, credit company server, etc. Then, the availability information indicating whether the accepted fee payment means is executable is acquired (availability acquisition step S0706).

  Then, a notification to the customer indicating change possible, change completion or change impossible based on the execution availability information acquired in step S0706 is acquired (notification acquisition step S0707), and the communication relating to the payment means change in step S0705 is still If it continues, the notification with the acquired notification content is executed to the customer via the communication (communication notification execution step S0708).

  Further, regardless of whether or not the notification through the communication in step S0708 is executed, a process for performing notification of whether or not the change is possible using the notification means stored in the second customer information holding unit, for example, An execution command may be output to the hardware control step S0704 (execution command step S0709) in order to be executed by hardware such as a communication device having a mobile phone function.

<Brief description of effect>
With the notification system of the present embodiment as described above, when the customer changes the payment method for continuous fee payment for using or purchasing services, products, etc., notification of whether the change is possible, for example, a fee Can be received in the same way as notifications such as invoices and receipts.

  Therefore, the customer can know the change of the payment means with the same feeling as a receipt or an invoice, and can expect an effect that the situation such as not being aware of the notification is less likely to occur.

<< Example 2 >>
<Overview>
In the notification system, when the notification is performed by controlling the mobile phone function by the SIM control unit, the number of necessary SIM control units may change. This is because, as described above, the upper limit on the number of transmissions per day by a mobile phone carrier (outgoing upper limit) has been established from the viewpoint of, for example, spam mail prevention. If this upper limit is changed for some reason, This is because the number of notifications that can be transmitted by one SIM control means also changes, and the number of necessary SIM control means changes accordingly.

Therefore, in the notification system of this embodiment, in order to accurately grasp the transmission upper limit, notifications are sequentially transmitted on a trial basis, and invoices, receipts, and the like are based on the transmission upper limit determined from the upper limit error for the test notification. It is further provided with a function of calculating the number of SIM control means necessary for transmitting the notification.
Note that the SIM control means may be configured to control hardware using one SIM card as described above, or use a plurality of SIM cards and be able to grasp the number of each SIM card. A configuration may be used in which a plurality of hardware is controlled by a card. In the following example, an example in which the SIM control unit uses one SIM card will be described.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the notification system of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “notification system” (0800) of this embodiment includes a “test address holding unit” (0801), a “test execution unit” (0802), and an “upper limit error information receiving unit” ( 0803), “transmission upper limit calculation unit” (0804), “notification required number holding unit” (0805), and “SIM control means required number calculation unit” (0806).

  The notification system according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration requirements in addition to the configuration requirements described in the first embodiment as a part of the notification system according to the first embodiment, and is calculated based on the added configuration requirements. The SIM control means included in the hardware control unit of the notification system according to the first exemplary embodiment may be provided for the necessary number of times, and hardware control may be performed to perform billing related to fee payment and notification of receipt. Alternatively, as a notification system for performing various notifications using a plurality of SIM control means different from the first embodiment, SIM control means are prepared for the necessary number calculated according to each of the above configuration requirements, and advertisements, solicitations, etc. It is also possible to perform notifications including the above.

  The “test address holding unit” (0801) has a function of holding a test address, and can be realized by, for example, a flash memory, an HDD, or another storage device. The “test address” refers to a test destination address other than the customer, and is an address assigned to a receiving-side resource used by a person other than the customer. For example, a configuration in which an address obtained by a contract between the administrator of the notification system and a mobile carrier or ISP (Internet service provider) is used as a dedicated test address.

  “Test execution unit” (0802) is a time frame for controlling a hardware having a mobile phone function to set an upper limit of transmission from a single SIM control means determined by a mobile phone carrier for a plurality of test addresses. The function of executing the test notification while sequentially increasing the number of transmissions can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a communication circuit, a test execution program, and the like.

  Specifically, the number of notifications (upper limit of transmission) that can be transmitted per predetermined time frame for each single SIM control means (for example, one contract SIM card or similar contract storage medium) is “1 day 500 per message ". Then, in this test execution unit, a process of notifying the test address one by one by a notification means such as SMS provided by the mobile phone function is performed for one day. In addition, a process of counting the number of notifications is also executed.

  For example, if there is no change in the transmission upper limit and 500 messages per day are received, upper limit error information described later is received when the 501st message is transmitted. On the other hand, if there is a change in the outgoing call upper limit, upper limit error information for the 701 test notification will be received according to the changed outgoing upper limit (for example, 700 per day), and the outgoing call changed accordingly The upper limit can be grasped.

  The “upper limit error information receiving unit” (0803) has a function of receiving upper limit error information, and can be realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a communication circuit, an upper limit error information receiving program, and the like. The “upper limit error information” refers to information indicating that the transmission cannot be performed because the number of test notifications transmitted by the test execution unit exceeds the transmission upper limit. For example, the mail server of the mobile phone carrier sets the transmission upper limit. An error notification to be transmitted as a response to the test notification transmitted beyond the above is given. Alternatively, the number of test notifications counted by the communication terminal that actually receives the notification addressed to the test address may be received as the upper limit error information from the communication terminal.

  The “transmission upper limit calculation unit” (0804) has a function of calculating a transmission upper limit per SIM control unit based on the received upper limit error information, and is realized by, for example, a CPU, a main memory, a transmission upper limit calculation program, or the like. can do. Specifically, for example, as a result of counting the number of test notifications, if an upper limit error notification is received as a response of transmitting the 701st test notification, the upper limit of transmission per SIM control means in a predetermined time frame is It can be calculated to be 700. Further, even when the number of test notifications received at the receiving terminal is 700, it is possible to calculate that the upper limit of transmission per SIM control means in a predetermined time frame is 700.

  In calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated, which will be described later, the calculated numerical value of the upper limit of transmission may be used as it is, or a margin such as “2” is calculated from the upper limit of transmission calculated with a margin. A value obtained by subtracting the value may be used.

  The “notification required number holding unit” (0805) has a function of holding the required number of notifications, and can be realized by, for example, a flash memory, HDD, or other storage device. “Notification required number” refers to the number of notifications to be sent. For example, the number of customers that are obvious from service provision / product sales contracts, the number of customers who want to be notified by the mobile phone function, or the customers In addition, the number of candidate customers specified as the target of notification for prospects and sales may be mentioned.

  The “SIM control means required number calculation unit” (0806) has a function of calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the notification required number, for example, CPU, main memory, SIM control means required number calculation. It can be realized by a program.

  Specifically, for example, “700” is calculated as the upper limit of transmission, the margin is “2”, and the number of notifications transmitted by one SIM control unit per day is “698”. For example, if the required number of notifications is “200000”, the number of SIM control means to be operated is calculated to be “287” by dividing 698 from 200000.

  For example, when the upper limit of transmissions up to now is “500” and the number of transmissions per day from one SIM control unit including a margin is “498”, the number of SIM control units in operation is If the number is “402”, the surplus “115” may be put into a non-operating state, or a part / all of the contract with the mobile phone carrier may be canceled.

  Conversely, if the upper limit of outgoing calls is changed to a smaller number than before, the number of SIM control means that should be operated naturally increases, so that the SIM control means that have been inactive can be restored to the active state, or a new The number of SIM control means that can be used is preferably increased by making a contract with a mobile phone carrier.

  In this way, by appropriately calculating the required number of SIM control means, even if the outgoing call upper limit is changed by the mobile phone carrier, at least a procedure for sending an actual notification to the customer without an error due to the outgoing call upper limit is taken immediately. be able to.

  Note that, as described above, the notification in the present embodiment may be, for example, a charge billing or receipt notification according to the charge payment means for each customer managed by the notification system of the first embodiment. As a notification system different from Example 1, in addition to billing and receipt notification, other notifications such as advertisements and solicitations may be used.

  In addition, when the number of SIM control means to be operated changes as a result of changing the upper limit of transmission as described above, the function of re-assigning notification to an actual customer in charge of one SIM control means is further provided. You may comprise as follows.

  Specifically, the notification system according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a transmission destination address management unit that manages a transmission destination address of the notification to the customer, a calculated transmission upper limit per one SIM control unit, and necessary SIM control. According to the number of means, an address assignment determination unit that determines assignment of the destination address managed by the destination address management unit to the SIM control means may be provided.

  For example, when the number of SIM control means to be operated is 287, and 115 SIM control means that have been operated so far are made non-operating, the actual customer assigned to the 115 non-operating actual customers For example, 20 destination addresses are assigned to the 287 SIM control means. Alternatively, when the upper limit of transmission per SIM control unit decreases, a part of the destination address that has been allocated to the SIM control unit that is already in operation is allocated to the newly operated SIM control unit. It is the condition of making.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in a communication system when the above functional components are realized as hardware. The operation of each hardware component in the calculation process of the number of SIM control means to be operated will be described using this figure.

  As shown in this figure, the communication system includes a “CPU” (0901) and a “main memory” (0902) for executing arithmetic processing. In addition, “HDD” (0903) holding various information and programs, “communication circuit” (0904), “SIM card” (0905) for controlling notification hardware, “I / O circuit” (0906) ) Etc. They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  Each program such as a test execution program, an upper limit error reception program, a transmission upper limit calculation program, and a SIM control means required number calculation program is appropriately read in the “main memory”, and the “CPU” stores the read program. Referring to and executing various arithmetic processes according to the procedure indicated by the program, and outputting a control command for controlling each hardware configuration described above. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the “main memory” and “HDD”, and in the arithmetic processing of the “CPU”, the address is specified and the stored data is accessed to access the data. It is possible to perform the arithmetic processing used.

  Regarding the notification system described here, each hardware configuration and each program may be included in one server device, or distributed / arranged in a plurality of server devices and other devices. It may be realized by a collaborative process, and there may be a plurality of managers for each device.

  Here, the notification system of the present embodiment sets the upper limit of transmission per communication device that has a mobile phone function and is controlled using one SIM card to “HDD” based on the result of the previous test notification, for example. Records and holds. In addition, the number of customers or customer candidates identified as the target of sending various notifications such as billing and receipts related to service usage fees, advertisements, etc., for example, by inputting information from the operator, etc. is also set as the required number of notifications as “HDD” Is recorded and retained.

  Similarly, a test address for transmitting a test notification is also registered and held in the “HDD” by an operator input or the like.

  Then, for example, at the date and time determined by the time scheduler, the “CPU” interprets the test execution program and uses the “SIM card” so that the test notifications are sequentially sent to the test addresses recorded in the “HDD”. Then, a control command is output from the “I / O” circuit to one communication device. Then, according to the control command, one communication apparatus sequentially transmits test notifications addressed to test addresses using, for example, SMS or the like of the mobile phone function. The “CPU” performs processing for counting the number of transmissions of the test notification.

  Thereafter, when a notification exceeding the transmission upper limit by the mobile phone carrier is transmitted, upper limit error information is returned as a transmission error from a mail server of the mobile phone carrier or the like. Then, the “CPU” of the notification system acquires the returned upper limit error information via the “communication circuit” or the “I / O circuit” via the communication device in accordance with the upper limit error receiving program.

  Then, the “CPU” interprets the transmission upper limit calculation program, and stores the counted number of test notification transmissions at the address 1 of the “main memory” until receiving the upper limit error information according to the interpretation result. Then, the number of transmissions is set as the upper limit of transmission, and a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined margin “2” from the numerical value is stored in address 2 of “main memory” as the number of notifications transmitted from one communication device. If the transmission upper limit held in “HDD” and the newly obtained numerical value of the transmission upper limit are changed, the value of the transmission upper limit is updated with the newly obtained value.

  Subsequently, the “CPU” interprets the SIM control means required number calculation program, reads the notification required number held in the “HDD” accordingly, and stores it in the address 3 of the “main memory”. Then, the number of required communication devices is calculated by dividing the required number of notifications stored at address 3 by the number of transmissions from one notification device stored at address 2, and the “main memory” Store at address 4.

  An administrator, service provider, or the like refers to the calculated required number of SIM control means and the current number of operations, and obtains SIM control means that are less than the required number (for example, purchase of communication devices or mobile phones). Acquisition of a SIM card by contract with a carrier), or conversely, the dormancy procedure or contract cancellation procedure of the SIM control means exceeding the required number is performed.

<Process flow>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the notification system of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, a test address, which is a test destination address other than the customer, is recorded to be held in the test address holding unit (test address holding step S1001), and the necessary number of notifications is also recorded. The information is recorded for retention in the notification required number holding unit (notification required number holding step S1002).

  Then, while controlling the hardware having a mobile phone function, while sequentially increasing the number of transmissions within a time frame for determining the upper limit of outgoing calls from a single SIM control means determined by the mobile phone carrier for a plurality of test addresses A test notification is executed (test execution step S1003). This S1003 is executed until the upper limit error information indicating that the test notification cannot be transmitted because the number of transmissions of the test notification exceeds the upper limit of transmission is received (upper limit error information receiving step S1004).

  Subsequently, based on the received upper limit error information, a transmission upper limit per SIM control unit is calculated (transmission upper limit calculation step S1005), and the number of SIM control units to be operated is calculated from the transmission upper limit and the required number of notifications. (SIM control means required number calculation step S1006).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the transmission upper limit in one SIM control unit can be grasped by the notification system of the present embodiment. Therefore, even if the transmission upper limit is changed, the number of SIM control means required as a whole is calculated, and the number of SIM control means corresponding to the calculated number is prepared so that bills, receipts, etc. related to the payment of charges etc. Notifications or advertisements can be transmitted to the entire customer without delay regardless of payment.

Example 3
<Overview>
As in the second embodiment, the present embodiment grasps that the outgoing upper limit has been changed with respect to the outgoing upper limit determined by the mobile phone carrier and the like, and calculates the number of SIM control means required for sending notifications. Is provided. Unlike the second embodiment, the present embodiment is characterized in that the transmission upper limit is calculated not from the test notification but from the upper limit error due to notification to an actual customer or the like.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the notification system according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “notification system” (1100) of this embodiment includes a “notification transmission unit” (1101), an “upper limit error information reception unit” (1102), and a “transmission upper limit calculation unit” (1103). ), “Necessary Notification Number Holding Unit” (1104), and “SIM Control Unit Required Number Calculation Unit” (1105).

  The notification system of the present embodiment also has the following configuration requirements in addition to the configuration requirements described in the first embodiment, and the notification of the first embodiment is performed for the necessary number of SIM control means calculated by the following configuration requirements. A SIM control unit included in the hardware control unit of the system may be prepared and hardware control may be performed to perform billing related to fee payment and notification of receipt. Alternatively, as a notification system that performs various notifications using a plurality of SIM control means different from the first embodiment, notifications such as advertisements and solicitations may be performed.

The “notification transmission unit” (1101) controls the hardware having a cellular phone function, and responds to the transmission limit within a time frame that determines the transmission upper limit from the single SIM control means determined by the cellular phone carrier. For example, a CPU, a main memory, a communication circuit, a notification transmission program, and the like. Specifically, for example, a single SIM control means, that is, a mobile phone function using one contract SIM card or a contract storage medium similar thereto, a predetermined number in the notification system according to the upper limit of the transmission (the upper limit of the transmission upper limit). -2) and the like are transmitted to the destination address of the customer.
In addition, when the notification system of the present embodiment is configured in combination with the notification system of the first embodiment, the hardware control unit controls hardware having a mobile phone function instead of the notification transmission unit. Thus, it is preferable to have a notification transmission unit that transmits a number of notifications corresponding to the upper limit of transmission within a time frame for determining the upper limit of transmission from the single SIM control unit determined by the mobile phone carrier.

  In addition, an “upper limit error information receiving unit” (1102), a “transmission upper limit calculating unit” (1103), a “notification required number holding unit” (1104), and a “SIM control means required number calculating unit” (1105) Since the upper limit error information is basically the same as the component having the same name in the above embodiment except that the upper limit error information is not a test notification but a person for the actual notification, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  If the upper limit of notifications that can be sent per predetermined time frame is changed from “500 per day” to “400 per day”, the upper limit error information for the notification is received. Thus, it is possible to grasp the upper limit of outgoing calls changed thereby.

  In addition, as described above, in this embodiment, the number of notifications is a number corresponding to the upper limit of outgoing calls currently grasped. I can't figure it out. However, in the case of the former change, there are customers and customer candidates who cannot send notifications, whereas in the latter case, an excessive SIM control means is used, but all customers etc. It is possible to send a notification properly. Therefore, even with the configuration of the present embodiment, the notification transmission reliability can be sufficiently ensured.

<Process flow>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the notification system of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, the required notification number is recorded in order to be stored in the required notification number holding unit (notification required number holding step S1201).

  After that, the hardware having the mobile phone function is controlled, and the actual notification is sent to the destination address of the customer or the like within the time frame for setting the upper limit of outgoing calls from the single SIM control means determined by the mobile phone carrier. Transmit (notification transmission step S1202).

  Then, when receiving the upper limit error information indicating that the notification could not be transmitted because the number of transmissions exceeded the transmission upper limit (upper limit error information receiving step S1203), one SIM control is performed based on the received upper limit error information. The upper limit of transmission per means is calculated (transmission upper limit calculation step S1204), and the number of SIM control means to be operated is calculated from the upper limit of transmission and the required number of notifications (SIM control means required number calculation step S1205).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the notification system of the present embodiment can also grasp that the upper limit of transmission in one SIM control means has been reduced. Accordingly, even if the transmission upper limit is reduced, the number of SIM control means required as a whole is calculated, and the number of SIM control means corresponding to the calculated number is prepared so that bills and receipts related to the payment of charges can be obtained. Notifications such as advertisements and advertisements can be transmitted to the entire customer without delay regardless of payment.

Example 4
<Overview>
In the present embodiment, as in the second and third embodiments, the upper limit of transmission set by a mobile phone carrier or the like is grasped, and the number of SIM control means necessary for transmission of notification is calculated when the upper limit of transmission is changed. The function to do. In the present embodiment, unlike the second and third embodiments, for example, the transmission upper limit notified from a carrier or the like is obtained.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the notification system according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “notification system” (1300) of this embodiment includes a “transmission upper limit acquisition unit” (1301), a “necessary notification number holding unit” (1302), and a “sim control means necessary number calculation”. Part "(1303).

  The notification system of the present embodiment also has the following configuration requirements as a part of the notification system of the first embodiment, and depends on the fee payment means for each customer managed as described in the first embodiment. In addition to billing and receipt notifications, other notifications including advertisements may be used. It may be.

  The “transmission upper limit acquisition unit” (1301) has a function of acquiring a transmission upper limit from a single SIM control means within a predetermined time frame determined by a mobile phone carrier related to a mobile phone function. It can be realized by main memory, communication circuit and input device, transmission upper limit acquisition program, etc.

  Specifically, for example, the transmission upper limit disclosed by the mobile phone carrier is acquired through a communication circuit, or is acquired by separately inputting the transmission upper limit by an operator.

  The “required required number holding unit” (1302) and the “SIM control means required number calculating unit” (1303) are basically the same as the configuration requirements of the same name in the above-described embodiment, and therefore will be described in detail. Is omitted.

<Process flow>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the notification system of the present embodiment. The steps shown below may be steps executed by each hardware configuration of the computer as described above, or may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling the computer recorded on a medium. I do not care.

  As shown in this figure, first, the required notification number is recorded in order to be stored in the required notification number holding unit (notification required number holding step S1401).

  After that, for example, when an upper limit of transmission from a single SIM control means within a predetermined time frame determined by the mobile phone carrier, which is made public by the mobile phone carrier, is acquired (transmission upper limit acquisition step S1402), The number of SIM control means to be operated is calculated from the upper limit and the required number of notifications (SIM control means required number calculation step S1403).

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, even with the notification system of the present embodiment, the upper limit of transmission in one SIM control unit can be grasped. Therefore, even if the transmission upper limit is changed, the number of SIM control means required as a whole is calculated, and the number of SIM control means corresponding to the calculated number is prepared so that bills, receipts, etc. related to the payment of charges etc. Notifications or advertisements can be transmitted to the entire customer without delay regardless of payment.

0200 Notification System 0201 Hardware Control Unit 0202 First Customer Information Holding Unit 0203 Second Customer Information Holding Unit 0204 Payment Means Holding Unit 0205 Payment Means Change Accepting Unit 0206 Availability Acquisition Unit 0207 Execution Command Unit

Claims (5)

A notification system for collecting charges for goods or services that are continuously or intermittently collected from the same customer, such as electricity, gas, water, telephone, other products and services, etc.
A hardware control unit for controlling hardware for executing a plurality of notification means;
A first customer information holding unit for holding a customer ID and a fee payment means ID in association with each other;
A second customer information holding unit that holds a customer ID in association with a notification means for making a notification regarding billing or / and receipt of the customer, etc .;
Payment means holding customer-selectable fee payment means ID such as bank withdrawal, credit payment, window payment, payment in electronic payment system constructed in wide area communication network or other closed communication network, or other payment A holding part;
By selecting from among the fee payment means ID held in the payment means holding unit, the change of the fee payment means ID held in the first customer information holding unit in association with the customer ID is received via communication. A payment means change acceptance section;
An availability acquisition unit for acquiring availability information indicating whether the accepted fee payment means is executable;
When a notification to the customer indicating change possible, change completion or change impossible based on the execution availability information acquired by the availability acquisition unit is acquired during the communication, the customer is notified via the communication, If the notification is not acquired during the communication or / and if acquired during the communication, a process for notifying the hardware control unit using the notification means stored in the second customer information holding unit is executed. An execution instruction part to be
Notification system with The notification means held in the second customer information holding unit includes at least one of a communication service and a web service used in the mobile phone function,
The notification system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware control unit has SIM control means for controlling a mobile phone function as hardware. The notification system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having the mobile phone function.
A test address holding unit for holding a test address which is a test destination address other than the customer;
Test while sequentially increasing the number of transmissions within a time frame that determines the upper limit of outgoing calls from a single SIM control means defined by a mobile phone carrier for a plurality of test addresses by controlling the hardware having the mobile phone function A test execution unit for executing notification;
An upper limit error information receiving unit for receiving upper limit error information indicating that transmission could not be performed because the number of transmissions exceeded the transmission upper limit;
Based on the received upper limit error information, a transmission upper limit calculation unit for calculating a transmission upper limit per one SIM control means,
A notification required number holding unit for holding a notification required number;
A SIM control means required number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the notification required number;
Notification system with The notification system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having the mobile phone function.
The hardware control unit controls the hardware having a mobile phone function, and notifies the number of notifications within the time frame that determines the upper limit of outgoing calls from a single SIM control means determined by the mobile phone carrier according to the upper limit of outgoing calls. Having a notification transmission means for transmitting,
An upper limit error information receiving unit for receiving upper limit error information indicating that the transmission could not be performed because the number of transmitted notifications exceeded the transmission upper limit;
Based on the received upper limit error information, a transmission upper limit calculation unit for calculating a transmission upper limit per one SIM control means,
A notification required number holding unit for holding a notification required number;
A SIM control means required number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the notification required number;
Notification system with The notification system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of SIM control means for controlling hardware having the mobile phone function.
A call upper limit acquisition unit for acquiring a call upper limit from a single SIM control means within a predetermined time frame determined by a mobile phone carrier related to the mobile phone function;
A notification required number holding unit for holding a notification required number;
A SIM control means required number calculating unit for calculating the number of SIM control means to be operated from the transmission upper limit and the notification required number;
Notification system with

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