JP2017167858A - Accounting server, accounting system, and accounting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To motivate a user to communicate with a content provider.SOLUTION: An accounting server comprises: a communication information acquisition unit for acquiring communication information on communication between a provider of a service and a receiver of the service; an accounting unit for charging a charge for communication; a privilege awarding condition acquisition unit for acquiring a privilege awarding condition of communication; and a privilege processing unit for performing privilege processing for communication on the basis of the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit and the awarding condition acquired by the privilege awarding condition acquisition unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging server, a charging system, and a charging method.

The demand for data communication services may increase depending on the time of day and location. For example, the demand for data communication services increases in trains during commuting hours, when events are held at event venues, during disasters, and in residential areas at night. When the demand for data communication services increases, congestion may occur and communication may be interrupted, communication data may be lost in the middle, or communication may be temporarily disabled.
The bandwidth reservation device described in Patent Literature 1 accepts a reservation for use of a communication band in a mobile communication system in advance according to reservation information transmitted from a communication terminal operated by a user, thereby responding to the reservation. Data communication services can be provided.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-156568

However, even if a service for preferential communication (hereinafter also referred to as priority communication) as described in Patent Document 1 is provided, communication is interrupted, communication data is lost, or temporarily It is not always possible to avoid a general inability to communicate. It is preferable that communication quality deterioration such as communication interruption, communication data loss, and temporary communication failure does not occur. For example, when a content provider provides a service to a user via communication, communication quality decreases for communication between the user and the content provider from the viewpoint of giving the user a motivation to communicate with the content provider. It is preferable not to occur.
On the other hand, even if a decrease in communication quality or the like occurs, if there is any benefit for the user who communicates with the content provider, the user can be motivated to communicate with the content provider There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charging server, a charging system, and a charging method that can give a user a motivation to communicate with a content provider. .

(1) According to one aspect of the present invention, a communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information related to communication between a service provider and a service recipient, a charging unit that charges the communication, and the communication Privilege processing for the communication based on the privilege granting condition acquisition unit that acquires the privilege granting condition for the communication, the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit, and the granting condition acquired by the privilege granting condition acquisition unit It is a billing server provided with the privilege process part which performs.
(2) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to (1), the privilege includes billing of the communication to a service provider, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication information However, when the grant condition is satisfied, the privilege processing is performed by determining, as the provider, a billing destination by the billing unit for the communication.
(3) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to (1) or (2), the privilege includes provision of a predetermined privilege, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication information. If the grant condition is satisfied, the privilege processing is performed by granting the predetermined privilege to the recipient and charging the provider for the cost of the predetermined privilege.
(4) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to any one of (1) to (3), the granting condition includes a condition based on whether or not a privilege target service is used, and the communication information includes Includes service identification information for identifying a service provided by the communication, and the privilege processing unit indicates the service of the privilege target in which the service identification information included in the communication information is included in the grant condition The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not.
(5) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to (1) to (4), the granting condition includes a condition based on presence / absence of communication with a communication target as a privilege target, The communication information includes communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination of the communication, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication destination identification information included in the communication information and the privilege target included in the grant condition. The privilege process is performed based on whether or not the communication destination is indicated.
(6) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to any one of (1) to (5), the grant condition includes a transaction content of the service between the recipient and the provider. The communication information includes information indicating the transaction content, the communication information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the transaction content from a service provider, and the privilege processing unit includes: The privilege processing is performed based on whether information indicating the transaction content included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the transaction content included in the grant condition.
(7) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the accounting server according to (1) to (6), the grant condition includes a condition based on a time zone in which the communication is performed, and the communication information includes Includes information indicating the time when the communication is performed, and the privilege processing unit performs the communication including the information indicating the time when the communication included in the communication information is included in the grant condition. The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the condition based on the time zone is met.
(8) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the accounting server according to (1) to (7), the grant condition includes a condition based on the quality of the communication, and the communication information includes the communication information Information indicating communication quality is included, and the privilege processing unit determines whether the information indicating the communication quality included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the communication quality included in the grant condition. Based on this, the privilege process is performed.
(9) Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the charging server according to (1) to (4), the privilege includes a first privilege and a second value that is higher in value than the first privilege. A privilege is included, and the privilege processing unit performs the privilege process by selecting the first privilege and the second privilege based on the communication information and the grant condition.
(10) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to any one of (1) to (9), a usage time limit is attached to the privilege, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication information acquisition unit. The privilege processing is performed by changing the use time limit of the privilege based on the communication information acquired by.
(11) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication server including a communication unit that performs communication between a service provider and a service recipient, a charging unit that charges the communication, and the communication A communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information regarding, a privilege grant condition acquisition unit that acquires a grant condition for the communication, the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit, and the privilege grant condition acquisition unit A charging system including a charging server including a privilege processing unit that performs privilege processing for the communication based on the granting condition.
(12) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication information acquisition step for acquiring communication information related to communication between a service provider and a recipient of the service, a charging step for charging the communication, Based on the privilege grant condition acquisition step for acquiring the privilege grant condition for the communication, the communication information acquired in the communication information acquisition step, and the grant condition acquired in the privilege grant condition acquisition step, And a privilege processing step for performing privilege processing for communication.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the motivation which communicates with a content provider can be given with respect to a user.

It is a figure which shows an example of the outline | summary of the privilege service regarding the communication of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the network structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the accounting server of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the privilege provision conditions by the charging server which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the burden reduction of the user UR by the accounting server which concerns on one Embodiment.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the outline | summary of the privilege service regarding communication is demonstrated.

[Outline of special services related to communications]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overview of a privilege service related to communication according to the present embodiment. This privilege service is a service provided among the communication carrier CA, the content provider CP, and the user UR (user).
In this example, the content provider CP is a moving image distribution company and provides moving images via a communication system provided by the communication carrier CA. The user UR purchases moving image content as a product from the content provider CP via a communication system provided by the communication carrier CA. A flow of privilege service in the case of this example will be described.

The user UR applies for service provision to the content provider CP (step S1). Specifically, the user UR places an order for distribution of moving image content to the content provider CP via a web page provided by the content provider CP.
The content provider CP provides a service to the user UR (step S2). Specifically, the content provider CP provides the user UR with the moving image content corresponding to the order from the user UR through communication provided by the communication carrier CA.

  The communication carrier CA acquires communication information between the user UR and the content provider CP for application for service provision and content provision (step S3). The communication information includes terminal identification information for identifying a terminal used by the user UR, application identification information for identifying an application used by the user UR, access destination information indicating a communication access destination, and communication quality indicating a communication quality status. Contains information.

  The communication carrier CA provides a privilege to the user UR when the communication information satisfies a predetermined condition (granting condition) (step S4). That is, when the user UR communicates with the content provider CP and the communication satisfies a predetermined condition, the user UR is given a privilege from the communication carrier CA. These benefits include free communication charges, discounts on communication charges, free provision of communication packet volume (data volume), discounts on communication packet volume (data volume), provision of priority communication (priority allocation of communication frequency), etc. Is included. Further, the granting conditions include a condition that determines whether or not a privilege is granted and a condition that determines the content or degree of the privilege. Based on the content of the communication information, the communication carrier CA determines whether or not to grant a privilege and the content and degree of the privilege when the privilege is granted. That is, the telecommunications carrier CA provides the user UR with a content and a degree of privilege according to the content of the communication information.

  The telecommunications carrier CA charges the content provider CP for the cost of the privilege provided to the user UR (step S5). The content provider CP pays the cost of the privilege to the telecommunications carrier CA in response to the request from the telecommunications carrier CA (step S6).

That is, according to this privilege service, the content provider CP can provide a privilege to the user UR via the communication carrier CA. Therefore, according to this privilege service, it is possible to motivate the user UR to apply for service provision to the content provider CP. That is, according to this privilege service, the motive for performing communication with the content provider CP can be given to the user UR.
Hereinafter, the configuration of a communication system that realizes this privilege service will be described.

[Configuration of communication system]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration of the communication system according to the present embodiment.
A communication system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that controls communication performed between a CP (Contents Provider) server and a terminal. The communication system 1 is configured to include, for example, a radio access network for LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication whose specifications are defined by a standardization organization 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 (information processing system) includes a communication control device 10 (information processing device), an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) 20, a CP server 30-1, and a CP server 30-2. CP server 31, closed network 40, Internet 50, radio access network 60, terminal 70, terminal 71, HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 80, and billing server 90.

The communication control device 10 performs priority control of communication between the CP server and the terminal. Details of the functional configuration of the communication control apparatus 10 will be described later.
The EPC 20 performs authentication, mobility control, bearer management, charging, QoS (Quality of Service) control, and the like. The EPC 20 includes a P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway) 200, an S-GW (Serving Gateway) 201, a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) 202, an MME (Mobility Management Ent. The

The P-GW 200 is a connection point with an external network of the EPC 20, and is a gateway that performs IP (Internet Protocol) address assignment, packet transfer to the S-GW 201, and the like. The S-GW 201 is a gateway that accommodates the eNodeB 600 that is an LTE wireless communication base station and transmits user data.
The PCRF 202 (priority control unit) performs QoS control for communication, priority control, and control for charging. Further, the PCRF 202 may perform communication priority control based on information transmitted from the communication control device 10. The MME 203 accommodates the eNodeB 600 and performs terminal mobility management, terminal authentication (security control), and the like.

The CP server 30-1 and the CP server 30-2 are CP servers that publish a specific website or the like that is a target of priority communication, and between the CP server and a terminal (for example, the terminal 70 or the terminal 71). This communication may be preferentially performed by priority control by the communication control device 10. There is a CP server that is connected to the EPC 20 via the closed network 40, such as the CP server 30-1, and a CP server that is connected to the EPC 20 via the Internet 50, such as the CP server 30-2. is there.
The CP server 31 is a CP server that publishes a general website that is not subject to priority communication. As will be described later, communication between the CP server 31 and the terminal 71 is not preferentially performed.

Note that the CP server 30-1, the CP server 30-2, and the CP server 31 are not limited to websites, but other contents (for example, video data, audio data, and text data) and applications It may be.
Further, in order to simplify the description, in FIG. 1, only one CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31 are illustrated, but there may be a plurality of each.

The closed network 40 is a “closed” network constructed as a service of its own by a communication carrier. Here, “closed” means that access is not received directly from the Internet 50.
The wireless access network 60 is a wireless network that relays communication between the EPC 20 and terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71). The radio access network 60 is, for example, an E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) that is an access network that implements radio communication in the LTE scheme. The radio access network 60 includes an eNodeB (evolved Node B) 600. The eNodeB 600 is a radio base station that supports LTE radio communication.

The terminal 70 is a specific terminal subject to priority communication, and communication between the terminal and the CP server (for example, the CP server 30-1, the CP server 30-2, or the CP server 31) is a communication control. The priority control may be performed preferentially by the device 10.
The terminal 71 is a general terminal that is not subject to priority communication. Communication between the terminal 71 that is not the target of priority communication and the CP server 31 that is not the target of priority communication is not preferentially performed.

  In the above description, the communication performed by the CP server 30-1 and the CP server 30-2 may be preferentially performed, and the communication performed by the CP server 31 is not preferentially performed. It is assumed that whether or not communication is preferentially performed for each server is determined, but is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which it is determined whether or not communication is preferentially performed for each site included in each CP server. That is, for example, in the case of communication in which access to a specific site is performed, priority communication is performed, and in the case of communication in which access to a site other than a specific site is performed, priority communication is not performed. It may be a configuration.

The HSS 80 is a subscriber information database of subscribers (users) who receive communication services provided by the communication system 1, and manages authentication information and location information of terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71).
The billing server 90 is a system for billing a CP server (CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31) or a terminal (terminal 70 and terminal 71). The system includes an accounting system (OCS) or an offline accounting system (OFCS).

[Billing server configuration]
Next, the functional configuration of the accounting server 90 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the accounting server 90 of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.
The billing server 90 includes a communication information acquisition unit 900, a billing unit 91, and a privilege granting unit 92. The billing unit 91 includes a billing data generation unit 911, a billing information storage unit 912, and a billing execution unit 913. The privilege grant unit 92 includes a privilege grant condition acquisition unit 921, a privilege grant condition storage unit 922, and a privilege processing unit 923.

  The communication information acquisition unit 900 receives terminal identification information and a communication destination device (for example, the CP server 30-) that is identified by the device identified by the terminal identification information from the transmission unit 103 of the communication control device 10 or the PCRF 202 of the EPC 20. 1, information identifying the CP server 30-2 or CP server 31 (for example, application identification information identifying an application used by the user UR), access destination information indicating a communication access destination, and communication quality status Get communication quality information. The communication information acquisition unit 900 outputs the information to the billing data generation unit 911.

  The accounting data generation unit 911 includes at least terminal identification information, application identification information, access destination information, and communication quality information acquired from the transmission unit 103 of the communication control device 10 or the PCRF 202 of the EPC 20 via the communication information acquisition unit 900. Billing data is generated based on one piece of information. For example, the billing data generation unit 911 generates the billing data including information indicating a communication fee based on the communication destination identification information.

The billing data generation unit 911 then transmits the terminal identification information, application identification information, access destination information, and communication quality information acquired from the transmission unit 103 of the communication control device 10 or the PCRF 202 of the EPC 20 via the communication information acquisition unit 900. The billing destination is determined based on at least one of the information.
The billing data generation unit 911 outputs the generated billing data and information indicating the billing destination to the billing execution unit 913.

The charging information storage unit 912 stores various information used in the charging process. The various information is, for example, information indicating a table in which terminal identification information, communication destination identification information, priority control related information, or communication related information is associated with billing information (for example, billing method, communication fee, etc.) , And information indicating a billing destination.
That is, the accounting data generation unit 911 acquires accounting information associated with information acquired via the communication information acquisition unit 900 from the transmission unit 103 of the communication control apparatus 10 or the PCRF 202 of the EPC 20 from the accounting information storage unit 912. As a result, it is possible to acquire information (billing data) indicating what billing processing is performed for which billing destination.

  The accounting information storage unit 912 includes storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD; Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory); (Random Access read / write Memory; readable / writable memory), or any combination thereof.

  The billing execution unit 913 performs billing processing for the billing destination based on the billing data input from the billing data generation unit 911 and information indicating the billing destination.

The privilege grant condition acquisition unit 921 acquires a privilege grant condition for communication from the privilege grant condition storage unit 922.
The privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores various types of information used for determining the privilege grant conditions. Various types of information include, for example, privilege target terminal information, privilege target application information, privilege target access destination information, privilege target transaction information, privilege target time zone information, privilege target communication quality information, and the like.
Here, the privilege target transaction information is information transmitted from a transaction partner when the user UR makes a transaction with a content provider CP or EC (electronic commerce) site as a transaction partner. This privilege target transaction information may include a user ID for identifying the user UR, a transaction amount between the user UR and the content provider CP, a date, a product name, and the like.

The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether to give a privilege to communication based on the communication information acquired by the privilege granting condition acquiring unit 921 and the granting condition acquired by the privilege granting condition acquiring unit 921.
The benefits granted to the user UR by the privilege processing unit 923 include free communication charges or discounts, the granting of communication usage rights, and an increase in the amount of data communication available to the user. The privilege processing unit 923 outputs the content of the privilege to the charging unit 91 when the communication fee is freed or discounted as a privilege. The billing unit 91 generates billing data based on the result determined by the privilege processing unit 923. Specifically, the billing unit 91 determines the billing destination from the user UR to the content provider CP for part or all of the bill for the user UR.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of services for which the user UR has a contract, the privilege processing unit 923 may determine which service the privilege granted to the user UR is applied to. Further, when there are a plurality of services for which the user UR is contracted, the privilege processing unit 923 may determine the service to which the privilege is applied based on the selection of the user UR. That is, when there are a plurality of services for which the user UR is contracting, the user UR may be able to select a service to which the privilege is applied.

Next, an example of the determination performed by the privilege processing unit 923 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of privilege provision conditions by the billing server 90 according to the present embodiment.

[Benefit pattern 1: Granting a privilege by using a specific application]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether communication is performed by a specific application. Specifically, the privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target application information. The privilege target application information is information indicating an application that is a target of the privilege among various applications operating on the terminal. In this case, when the user UR communicates with the content provider CP using the privilege target application, the privilege is given to the user UR. Here, the benefit target application includes an application provided by the content provider CP. For example, when the content provider CP is a video distribution company, the privilege-targeted application includes a video viewing application. Further, for example, when the content provider CP is a mail-order business, the benefit target application includes a product selection application.
The charging server 90 can give the user UR a motivation to communicate with the content provider CP by granting a privilege to use the application recommended by the content provider CP.
Note that the billing server 90 may use the application recommended by the content provider CP, and may give a privilege for performing a paid transaction with the content provider CP. Even if comprised in this way, the accounting server 90 can give the motive for performing communication with content provider CP with respect to user UR.

[Bonus Pattern 2: Granting of Bonus by Communication with Specific URL]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether or not communication is performed with respect to a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target access destination information. This privilege target access destination information is information indicating an access destination that is a target of a privilege among various access destinations. In this case, when the user UR accesses the URL provided by the content provider CP, a privilege is given to the user UR. Here, the URL provided by the content provider CP includes the URL of the home page or portal site of the content provider CP. The URL provided by the content provider CP includes URLs such as campaigns, banner advertisements, and trial use of content provided by the content provider CP.
The charging server 90 can give the user UR a motivation to communicate with the content provider CP by giving a privilege to access to the URL recommended by the content provider CP.

[Benefit pattern 3: Grant of benefits according to transaction status]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP. Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target transaction information. This privilege target transaction information is information indicating a transaction status to which a privilege is granted among the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP. This transaction status includes a user ID for identifying the user UR, the presence / absence of a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP, the number of transactions, transaction frequency, date and time, product name, and the like. For example, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege when there is a predetermined number of accesses to the content provider CP. In addition, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege if there is a transaction even once in the past in a month in which communication is performed. When the transaction presence / absence is a privilege granting condition, the privilege processing unit 923 determines whether there is a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP. The privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to the user UR when there is a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP. An example of giving a privilege when there is a transaction is “repeater privilege”. An example of granting a privilege when there is no transaction is “new customer privilege”.
In addition, the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP includes the status of the member registration process of the user UR with the content provider CP and the status of the purchase processing of products and the like. For example, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege when the user UR performs new member registration with the content provider CP.
The accounting server 90 is described as acquiring the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP by receiving the communication content exchanged between the user UR and the content provider CP. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the content provider CP may include a database (not shown) that stores the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP. In this case, the accounting server 90 may obtain the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP from the content provider CP database.

[Variation: Granting value benefits according to transaction status]
The privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege even when the user UR does not lead to purchase of a product or the like. Specifically, the privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to a state where the user UR has applied for purchase of a product or the like and has not paid for the price. In addition, the privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege when the user UR makes a purchase application for a product or the like and then cancels the purchase application. In this case, the privilege processing unit 923 may give a privilege with a lower value than when the user UR has purchased a product or the like. That is, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a low-value privilege at a stage before purchasing a product or the like, and a high-value privilege at a stage after purchasing the product or the like.
Moreover, the privilege process part 923 may determine the content of the privilege which should be provided based on the purchase log | history of goods, etc. by user UR, and transaction accumulated amount. Specifically, the privilege processing unit 923 gives a higher-value privilege to the user UR when the accumulated transaction amount by the user UR is large.
Further, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege with a value corresponding to the member rank when the user UR has registered as a member with the content provider CP.

  The charging server 90 can give the user UR a motivation to communicate with the content provider CP by giving a privilege to access to the URL recommended by the content provider CP.

[Benefit pattern 4: Grant of privilege according to communication time zone]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines a time zone during which communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed. Specifically, the privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target time zone information. This privilege target time zone information is information indicating a time zone in which a privilege is granted among time zones in which communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed. The privilege processing unit 923 determines the time zone of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP by comparing with the privilege target time zone information. The privilege processing unit 923 gives a privilege to the user UR when the communication time zone between the user UR and the content provider CP is the time zone for the privilege. For example, a time zone with a small amount of communication such as midnight or early morning is selected as the time zone in which the privilege is granted. The billing server 90 can level the daily traffic volume by encouraging the use of the time zone when the traffic volume is low.
Further, the privilege processing unit 923 may determine the grant of the privilege by combining the time zone in which the communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed and the communication amount (packet amount). In this case, the privilege processing unit 923 gives a privilege to the user UR when a predetermined amount or more of communication is performed in a predetermined time zone between the user UR and the content provider CP. By configuring in this way, the billing server 90 gives a privilege by distinguishing, for example, a user UR that performs a small amount of communication for the benefit and a user UR that performs communication of content using many packets. be able to. Therefore, the billing server 90 can prompt the user UR to perform more communication in a predetermined time zone.

[Privilege pattern 5: Grant of privilege according to communication quality]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP. Specifically, the privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target communication quality information. This privilege target communication quality information is information indicating a quality standard of communication performed between the user UR and the content provider CP. The privilege processing unit 923 determines the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP by comparing with the privilege target communication quality information. The privilege processing unit 923 gives a privilege to the user UR when the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP satisfies or does not satisfy the quality standard for the privilege. The communication quality standard to which a privilege is given includes the degree of communication congestion, the degree of packet loss (packet loss), and whether or not a communication failure has occurred. For example, a situation in which communication is more congested is selected as the quality standard for communication to which a privilege is given. In this case, the billing server 90 gives a privilege when communication is congested and the quality of the content provided by the content provider CP is degraded. Moreover, the privilege process part 923 may change the content of a privilege according to the grade of the communication quality fall, and may provide a privilege. For example, the privilege processing unit 923 gives more privileges to the user UR as the packet loss degree is larger. The billing server 90 can reduce the dissatisfaction of the user UR by giving a privilege as a price for the content quality being lowered.

[Modification]
Based on the detection data of the communication device acquired by the detection unit of the communication control device 10, notification is made to the user terminal that is in communication connection. The notification is, for example, displaying a screen requesting confirmation of intention for reducing the communication quality (throughput or the like) of the user on an application on the user terminal. The communication control apparatus transmits control information to the communication apparatus, and performs communication quality control (QoS or the like) for the user terminal that has accepted the decrease in communication quality. The billing server grants a privilege to the user by using the confirmation as a privilege granting condition. An upper limit is set for the number of users to whom the privilege is given.

[Privilege pattern 6: Grant of privilege for communication by a specific terminal]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether communication is performed by a specific terminal. Specifically, the privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target terminal information. This privilege target terminal information is information indicating a terminal that is a privilege target among various terminals. For example, the privilege target terminal information includes information indicating a privilege target model among various types of terminals. In this case, when the user UR communicates using a model (for example, a new model) recommended by the communication carrier CA, a privilege is given to the user UR. In this case, the carrier CA may bear the cost of the privilege, not the content provider CP.
The billing server 90 can also grant a privilege by combining the privilege patterns described so far.

[Variation: Grant of benefits with expiration dates]
The billing server 90 may grant a privilege with an expiration date to the user UR. Specifically, the billing server 90 may set an expiration date for the use right when the use right of communication is granted as a privilege to the user UR. In this case, for example, the billing server 90 determines the expiration date by setting the communication right to be granted at the start of the expiration date. Further, the billing server 90 may determine the expiration date by setting the initial use timing of the communication usage right at the start of the expiration date.
In this case, the billing server 90 may perform the privilege process by changing the expiration date of the privilege based on the communication information acquired by the privilege granting condition acquisition unit 921. Specifically, the billing server 90 extends the expiration date of the right to use communication when a predetermined condition is satisfied. This predetermined condition includes, for example, a case where the user UR accesses a banner advertisement or the like of the content provider CP, or a case where the user UR uses a predetermined application.
With this configuration as well, the billing server 90 can give the user UR a motivation to communicate with the content provider CP.

[Variation: Granting benefits with limited use range]
The accounting server 90 may give a privilege whose usable range is limited to the user UR. Specifically, in a case where the usage right for communication is granted as a privilege to the user UR, the billing server 90 may set an available range for this usage right. This usable range includes, for example, a specific application and a specific URL. That is, the billing server 90 may give a privilege that can be used only for a specific application, a specific URL, or the like to the user UR.

[Privilege pattern 7: Grant of privilege based on communication volume]
When the terminal is used for IoT (Internet of Things), for example, when the terminal is used for monitoring the water level of a river, the following usage pattern can be considered. That is, the terminal transmits the current water level data to a specific connection destination in a normal state, and transmits a moving image of the surrounding situation captured by the monitoring camera in an emergency such as an increase in water. In such a usage pattern, the amount of data transmitted in an emergency is much larger than the amount of data transmitted in normal times. In this usage pattern, the communication priority is low during normal times, and the communication priority is high in an emergency. For this reason, in the case of this usage pattern, a communication is performed with a lower priority during normal times, and a communication with a higher priority is performed in an emergency. A contract for communication with higher priority may be expensive. For this reason, when a communication service contract is made in accordance with an emergency communication amount and priority that occurs only for a short period of time, there is a problem that it is difficult to wipe out the user UR's sense of value for normal communication.

  Accordingly, the billing server 90 reduces the burden of communication charges on the user UR when the use of data communication meets a specific condition. An example of a mechanism for reducing the communication charge burden of the user UR performed by the billing server 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of reducing the burden on the user UR by the billing server 90 according to the present embodiment. A waveform W1 to a waveform W3 in the figure show the transition of the data communication amount with respect to the contract period of the terminal of a certain user UR. Here, the waveform W1 indicates the amount of data communication in the period T1. In the example of the water level monitoring described above, the period T1 is a period in which the river maintains a normal water level and transmits water level data. In this period T1, the amount of data communication by the user UR is not more than a predetermined threshold value Th. The predetermined threshold Th is a utilization threshold of data communication amount that is determined in a contract between the user UR and the communication carrier CA.

In addition, a waveform W2 in the figure shows the amount of data communication in the period T2. This period T2 is a period during which the river is increasing and moving image data is transmitted in the above-described example of water level monitoring. In this period T2, the amount of data communication by the user UR exceeds a predetermined threshold Th.
A waveform W3 indicates the amount of data communication in the period T3. This period T3 is a period in which the river maintains a normal water level in the above-described example of water level monitoring. In this period T3, the amount of data communication by the user UR is not more than a predetermined threshold value Th.

  In the contract between the user UR and the communication carrier CA, when the data communication amount exceeds the threshold value Th, the upper limit value of the communication speed decreases compared to the case where the threshold value Th is not exceeded. Priority may be lowered. That is, in this contract, when the data communication amount exceeds the threshold value Th, the user UR is disadvantaged. For this reason, the user UR has a motivation to perform communication so that the data communication amount does not exceed the threshold value Th during normal times. When the amount of data communication is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value Th as indicated by the waveform W1, an unused amount V1 is generated. The user UR can cause this unused amount V1 to be used by another user UR who wants to preferentially use the communication line. That is, the bandwidth of the communication line can be interchanged between the user URs.

In the period T2, the amount of data communication is larger than that in normal times because of the transmission of moving images. In this case, in the period T2, the user UR preferentially uses the communication line by using an unused area of another user UR. The amount of data communication in the period T2 exceeds a predetermined threshold Th.
The charging server 90 sets the charging destination of the data communication fee as the user UR for the period T1 and the period T3, and as the content provider CP for the period T2. That is, the billing server 90 changes the billing destination of the data communication fee for the period T2 from the user UR to the content provider CP. The billing server 90 reduces the cost burden on the user UR by changing the billing destination of the data communication fee. According to the billing server 90, when a communication service contract is made in accordance with an emergency communication amount and priority that occurs only for a short period of time, it is possible to eliminate the sense of value of the user UR for normal communication.

  The accounting server 90 may subtract the charge for the data communication amount V2 corresponding to the unused amount V1 out of the data communication fee for the period T2. With this configuration as well, the billing server 90 can reduce the cost burden on the user UR by changing the billing destination of the data communication fee.

[Application example: Restaurant reservation system]
An application example of the accounting server 90 of this embodiment will be described. In this application example, the content provider CP described above is a restaurant business operator, and the user UR is a customer who makes a restaurant reservation.
The user UR inputs reservation information such as a store name, the number of reservations, and a reservation time to the terminal. The terminal accesses the content provider CP and transmits reservation information. The content provider CP performs a restaurant reservation process and transmits a reservation result to the terminal. In this case, the content provider CP may notify the user UR of the store availability. The billing server 90 acquires the communication status between the user UR and the content provider CP. If the billing server 90 determines that the store reservation communication is being performed between the user UR and the content provider CP, the billing server 90 switches the billing destination of this communication from the user UR to the content provider CP.
With this configuration, the billing server 90 can reduce the cost burden on the user UR, so that the user UR can be motivated to access the content provider CP.

  The billing server 90 of the present embodiment can also be applied to, for example, an ordering (menu order) system for dishes and beverages at restaurants. The content provider CP displays a menu screen for cooking and beverages on the terminal of the user UR in the restaurant. The user UR orders food and drink by operating his / her terminal. The content provider CP provides food and beverages to the user UR in response to an order from the user UR. The billing server 90 acquires the communication status between the user UR and the content provider CP. If the charging server 90 determines that communication for ordering is being performed between the user UR and the content provider CP, the charging server 90 switches the charging destination of the communication from the user UR to the content provider CP. Moreover, if the charging server 90 determines that communication for ordering is being performed between the user UR and the content provider CP, the charging server 90 may grant a privilege such as a coupon that can be used at this restaurant to the user UR. .

  As described above, the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment can flexibly perform priority communication in various situations.

  The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that controls a communication network including wireless communication via the wireless access network 60, but is not limited thereto. The communication system 1 according to the present embodiment may be a system that controls a communication network via a wired access network, for example.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention and its deformation | transformation were demonstrated, these embodiment and its deformation | transformation were shown as an example and are not intending limiting the range of invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and at the same time, are included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  Each of the above devices has a computer inside. The process of each device described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processing is performed by the computer reading and executing the program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above.
Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Communication control apparatus, 20 ... EPC, 30-1 ... CP server (priority), 30-2 ... CP server (priority), 31 ... CP server (general), 40 ... Closed network, 50 ... Internet, 60 ... Radio access network, 70 ... Terminal (priority), 71 ... Terminal (general), 80 ... HSS, 90 ... Billing server, 103 ... Transmission unit, 200 ... P-GW, 201 ... S-GW, 202 ... PCRF, 203 ... MME, 600 ... eNodeB, 900 ... Communication information acquisition unit, 911 ... Billing data generation unit, 912 ... Billing information storage unit, 913 ... Billing execution unit

Claims (12)

A communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information related to communication between a service provider and a recipient of the service;
A charging unit for charging the communication;
A privilege grant condition acquisition unit for acquiring a privilege grant condition for the communication; and
A privilege processing unit that performs a privilege process for the communication based on the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit and the grant condition acquired by the privilege grant condition acquisition unit;
A billing server comprising: The privilege includes a charge for the communication to the service provider,
The privilege processing unit
The billing server according to claim 1, wherein when the communication information satisfies the grant condition, the privilege processing is performed by setting a billing destination by the billing unit of the communication as the provider. The privilege includes provision of a predetermined privilege,
The privilege processing unit
When the communication information satisfies the grant condition, the privilege processing is performed by granting the predetermined privilege to the recipient and charging the provider for the cost of the predetermined privilege. The billing server according to claim 1 or 2. The granting condition includes a condition based on the presence / absence of the use of the service for the privilege,
The communication information includes service identification information for identifying a service provided by the communication,
The privilege processing unit
The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the service identification information included in the communication information indicates the service of the privilege target included in the grant condition. The billing server described. The granting condition includes a condition based on presence / absence of communication with the communication target of the privilege,
The communication information includes communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination of the communication,
The privilege processing unit
The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the communication destination identification information included in the communication information indicates the privileged communication destination included in the grant condition. Billing server according to item. The grant condition includes a condition based on transaction content of the service between the recipient and the provider,
The communication information includes information indicating the transaction content,
The communication information acquisition unit
Obtain information indicating the transaction content from the service provider,
The privilege processing unit
The privilege processing is performed based on whether information indicating the transaction content included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the transaction content included in the grant condition. The billing server according to one item. The grant condition includes a condition based on a time zone in which the communication is performed,
The communication information includes information indicating the time when the communication was performed,
The privilege processing unit
The privilege processing is performed based on whether information indicating a time at which the communication included in the communication information is performed satisfies a condition based on a time zone in which the communication is performed included in the grant condition. The accounting server according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The grant condition includes a condition based on the quality of the communication,
The communication information includes information indicating the quality of the communication,
The privilege processing unit
The privilege processing is performed based on whether information indicating the communication quality included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the communication quality included in the grant condition. The billing server according to any one of the above. The privilege includes a first privilege and a second privilege that is higher in value than the first privilege,
The privilege processing unit
The charge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the privilege processing is performed by selecting the first privilege and the second privilege based on the communication information and the grant condition. server. The benefits are dated with a usage period,
The privilege processing unit
The billing server according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the privilege processing is performed by changing the use time limit of the privilege based on the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit. A communication server including a communication unit that performs communication between a service provider and a recipient of the service;
A charging unit for charging the communication;
A communication information acquisition unit for acquiring communication information related to the communication;
A privilege grant condition acquisition unit for acquiring a privilege grant condition for the communication; and
A privilege processing unit that performs a privilege process for the communication based on the communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition unit and the grant condition acquired by the privilege grant condition acquisition unit;
A billing server comprising:
A billing system comprising: A communication information acquisition step for acquiring communication information related to communication between the service provider and the service recipient;
A charging step for charging the communication;
A privilege granting condition acquisition step of acquiring a privilege granting condition for the communication;
Based on the communication information acquired in the communication information acquisition step and the grant condition acquired in the privilege grant condition acquisition step, a privilege processing step for performing a privilege process for the communication;
A billing method.

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