JP3164328B2 - Communication fee billing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case where two terminals communicate with each other via a communication network, and a case where a groupware service such as a multipoint communication conference or a multipoint collaborative work is performed with a plurality of terminals. Etc., which relates to a charging method for determining a communication fee.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when multipoint communication is performed by mutually connecting each other on a mesh, a communication fee is fixedly charged to an activation side (or an activation side) which sets a communication path. Used.

[0003] The billing method includes a frequency accumulation method for accumulating a charge index on a frequency meter, a call start and end time for each call,
It is divided into a detailed billing system that records the other party of the call. Regarding the billing method, see, for example, “New Easy Telecommunications Technology” (issued by Ohm Co., Ltd. on February 5, 1979) pp5
2-53.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional billing system. Reference numerals 401 to 404 denote terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 405 for performing multipoint communication. , 406 are communication lines, and 407 is a logical communication path for performing communication between terminals.

First, the terminal 1 calls the terminals 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and sets the communication paths 12, 13, and 14 with each.
Thereafter, the terminal 2 calls the terminals 3 and 4, respectively, and sets the communication paths 23 and 24 with each. Further, a case where the terminal 3 calls the terminal 4 and sets the communication path 34 will be described.

In this case, a total of 6 ( ₄ C ₂ = 4 × 3 ÷ 2 =
6) The terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 are connected in a mesh by the communication paths. Assuming that the communication fee is charged to the initiating side that has set the communication path, the communication path 1
For 2, 13, and 14 minutes, the communication path 23,
The terminal 2 was charged for 24 minutes, and the terminal 3 was charged for the communication path 34 minutes, and the terminal 4 was not charged at all.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned conventional system, the communication fee is charged uniformly to the originating terminal (or the receiving terminal). Despite being a teleconference, there is a problem that the communication fee varies between terminals and becomes unfair. Further, in order to eliminate unfairness, even if an attempt is made to add a communication charge in a communication network and apportion the charge so as to be fair, the charge is charged to the terminal on the transmitting side (starting side). Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to use a communication path particularly in a case of performing multipoint communication (conference). The communication charges are apportioned between the calling and called terminals,
An object of the present invention is to provide a billing method capable of eliminating unfairness.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0010]

To SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the object, means (1) of the present invention, by connecting a plurality of communication terminals mutually via a communication network, between a pair multipoint A communication fee charging method for each communication terminal when performing communication, wherein a registration unit for registering a terminal number of a terminal performing multipoint communication in a communication network, and a setting between terminals registered by the registration unit a calculating means for calculating a communication charge for logical communication for each path, and a memory for storing the communication charge calculated by the calculating means, when the inter-multipoint communication is terminated, the memory
To memorize by adding reads communication rates are a proportionally means for apportioning the communication charge in a ratio predetermined for each terminal, the communication fee is prorated by the apportioning means in the billing meter each terminal and feature in that a bankruptcy means for bankruptcy.

[0011] The means (2) of the present invention may be arranged such that said registration means
But the type of communication between the multipoint when calling terminal sets a communication path to determine whether apportioning billing communications, in said registration means
If the determination is apportioning billing communication, said proportional division means, when the communication is terminated, and is previously stored texture memory, before
The communication charge calculated by the calculation means is read, and the communication charge to be charged to the terminal that has performed the multipoint communication at a predetermined ratio is apportioned.
Each terminal according to the communication charge apportioned by the stage
The charging meter is updated.

[0012] The means (3) of the present invention may be arranged such that said registration means
But the determination type of the communication is whether apportioning billing communication, when placing in the calling terminal, and wherein the determining in whether the service identification code predetermined is input.

[0013] Means (4) of the present invention, a management table associating a communication path determined by the correspondence between the outgoing terminal and the receiving terminal, and a charge calculation communication whether identifier, prior to
Serial register means, when placing in the calling terminal, a service identity code to request the charge calculation a predetermined when the receiving terminal number is entered in association, the calling terminal number and the called terminal number the examined, but when the communication path determined from these pairs are in said management table, associating the identifier indicating the charge calculation communication to the communication path, said Noboru
When the calculating means updates the charging meter of each terminal, the calculating means updates only the terminal of the communication path associated with the identifier indicating the apportioning charging communication in the management table .

[0014] Means (5) of the present invention, a management table associating a communication path determined by the correspondence between the outgoing terminal and the receiving terminal, and a charge calculation communication whether identifier, prior to
Serial register means, when a predetermined service ID code at the time of transmission of the calling side terminal and the called terminal number is entered in association with, first checks the calling terminal number, the originating terminal number If the management table, then accept the service identity code, if the service identification code is a request for the charge calculation is subsequently examined called terminal number, the management communication path determined from the pairs When it is in the table, it is associated with an identifier indicating the communication path apportioning billing communication, and
When updating the billing meter respectively of the terminal, said tube
It you wherein only be updated for the terminal of the communication path identifier is associated indicating a charge calculation communication sense table.

[0015] The means (6) of the present invention is the above-mentioned registration means.
But the type of the communication is determined whether or not a charge calculation communication, calling terminal number and wherein the determining this <br/> on whether a predetermined number.

[0016] The means (7) of the present invention is characterized in that the registration means
However, it is characterized in that the determination as to whether or not the type of communication is apportioned billing communication is based on whether a pair of a transmitting terminal number and a receiving terminal number is a predetermined pair.

[0017]

According to the above-mentioned means, when a communication to be charged proportionally in the communication network is detected, a communication charge is calculated between terminals in correspondence with a logical communication path. The calling terminal and the receiving terminal that use the terminal are charged proportionally at a predetermined ratio (for example, halved) in proportion to the usage of the communication path. In particular, when a multipoint communication conference is performed by connecting in a mesh form, a predetermined apportioned value (for example, half) of the communication fee of each communication path used by each terminal can be charged. Is added to the communication fee of each terminal, and there is no unfair feeling as in the case of charging the communication start side (originating side) terminal, and extremely reasonable charging can be performed.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a billing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 100 is a communication network composed of switching devices and the like, and 101, 102, 103, and 104 are multipoint communication systems. Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 that perform communication. Reference numerals 111, 112, 113, and 114 denote physical communication lines for connecting the terminals to the switching devices; 130, a billing meter for holding a charge corresponding to the terminal; 131, a working memory for temporarily storing and holding a communication charge; Is a credit unit (counting means) for registering a fee with a specified terminal,
133 is a calculation unit (calculation means) for calculating a communication charge corresponding to a communication path set between terminals, 134 is an apportioning unit (apportioning means) for apportioning the calculated communication charge, 13
Reference numeral 5 denotes a registration unit (registering means) for registering a terminal number.

A communication path set in a mesh between terminals via a communication network is the same as in FIG.
For simplicity of explanation, terminal 1 and terminal 2 respectively
Only logical communication paths for communication between 3 and 4 are shown as 122 (communication path 12), 123 (communication path 13), and 124 (communication path 14), and others are omitted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying the configuration of the charging meter 130 of the present embodiment.
Reference numerals 3204 denote meters that hold the charges of the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying the configuration of the working memory 131 of this embodiment.
Reference numerals 4 and 323 denote memories for temporarily storing communication charges of the communication paths 12, 13, and 14 and the communication path 23 (communication path between the terminal 2 and the terminal 3).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a management table for managing each communication in the switching apparatus of the present embodiment. 50 is a management table, 51 is a communication path number field, and 52 is a field of a charging flag indicating a charging method. , 53 is a calling terminal number field, and 54 is a called terminal number field.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a detecting means (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting that the apportioning billing communication of this embodiment is performed. The operation of this detection will be described with reference to FIG. explain. For example, when the terminal 1 calls the terminal 2, the other party communicating with a specific service code (for example, "1XY") such as a "special number dial" requesting a predetermined apportioned billing service. (Incoming terminal)
Enter the number. When the apportioning service code and the called terminal number are input from the calling terminal, the detecting means first checks whether the number is in a list of numbers managed by the calling terminal number exchange device (step 401). Thereafter, it is checked whether the dial is “1XY” indicating the apportioning billing service (step 402). If the dial is "1XY",
It is determined that the communication is an apportioning billing communication, and it is checked whether the called terminal number input from the terminal 1 is in a list of numbers managed by the exchange (step 40).
3). Thereafter, a communication path number (for example, the identification number of the communication path 12), a proportional charging flag (for example, "1"), a calling terminal number, and a called terminal number are set in the management table 50 as shown in FIG. 4 (step 404). ). The dial is 1
If it is not XY, the process ends.

[0025] FIG 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the registration unit of the present embodiment. Before Kito recording unit 135, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, terminal 1, terminal 2, terminal 3, when the registration of the communication between the multipoint from the terminal 1 to communicate between multiple points on the terminal 4, predetermined Enter the number of the other party (terminating terminal) that communicates with the assigned apportioning service code (for example, “1XY”). Terminals 1, 2, 3,
4 numbers are 0468-59-XXXX, 03-3509-XXXX, 0292
-87-XXXX, 0422-59-XXXX, 1XY * 0468-59-XXX
Register as X * 03-3509-XXXX * 0292-87-XXXX * 0422-59-XXXX♯.

When the registering unit 135 receives the apportioning billing service code and the receiving terminal number from the calling terminal, it first checks whether the dial is "1XY" indicating the apportioning billing service (step 501). Dial is "1X
If Y ", it is determined that the communication is apportioned billing communication, and the calling terminal number and the called terminal number are checked (step 5).
02). A charging flag (for example, 1) is set for the combination (step 503). The dial is "1X
If not "Y", the process ends.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a registration list in which a communication partner terminal to which a communication charge is apportioned is registered in a switching device in advance according to a service order or the like according to the present embodiment. When the receiving terminal number to be communicated from the calling terminal is input, the detecting means checks whether the calling terminal number and the called terminal number are in a list of numbers managed by the switching device, and the like. Thereafter, the registration list 70 in which the calling terminal number and the called terminal number are registered in advance as the proportional charging communication.
Find out if there is. This is performed by checking whether or not the calling terminal numbers of the registration list 70 as shown in FIG. 7 are registered as "pairs" (associated). If the transmitting terminal number and the receiving terminal number are in the registration list 70, it is determined that the communication is the proportional charging communication, and the communication path number (for example, the identification number of the communication path 12) is stored in the management table as shown in FIG. , Set the receiving terminal number. If the calling terminal number and the receiving terminal number are not in the registration list 70, the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the switching device of the communication network in FIG. The operation of the switching device of the communication network in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
Since the present invention can be applied to each communication path configuring the multipoint communication, a case where the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 communicate in the multipoint communication will be described below.

1 and 8, first, when the terminal 1 calls the terminal 2, the communication network 100 establishes the registration unit 13
In step 701, it is detected whether or not the communication is the apportioning accounting communication. The detection of whether or not the apportioned billing communication is performed is as shown in FIG.
As described above, when the apportioning billing service code (“1XY”) and the receiving terminal number (terminal number of terminal 2) are input from the transmitting terminal, the calling terminal number (terminal number of terminal 1), the service code, and the receiving This is done by checking the terminal number. When the call from the terminal 1 to the terminal 2 is a proportional charging communication, a communication path number (for example, an identification number of the communication path 12) and a proportional charging flag (for example, "1") are stored in the management table 50 shown in FIG. ), Set the calling terminal number and receiving terminal number.

Next, the exchange sets a communication path (communication path 12) between the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 by calling the terminal 2 or the like (step 702).

When the communication path is set, the calculation unit 1
33 calculates a communication fee for each communication path based on the communication time, the amount of information passing through the communication path, the throughput of the communication path, etc., until the communication path is disconnected and communication between the terminals ends. Then, it is stored at the position of the corresponding communication path in the working memory 131 (step 703).
For example, the communication fee of the communication path 12 between the terminal 1 and the terminal 2 is:
It is calculated by the calculation unit 133 and stored in the memory 312.

Next, when the communication path between the terminals is disconnected and the communication is terminated (step 704), it is determined by checking the charging flag in the management table 50 whether or not the disconnected communication path is the instruction of the proportional charging communication. (Step 70
5). In the case of the apportioning charging instruction (when the charging flag is “1”), the apportioning unit 134 reads the contents of the communication fee corresponding to the communication path in the work memory 131, and determines the rate (for example, , 50
%: 50%), and is apportioned between the calling side and the called side (step 706). For example, by reading the contents of the communication fee of the memory 312 corresponding to the communication path 12 of the working memory 131,
Distribute equally between the calling party and the called party.

Thereafter, the crediting unit 132 bills the communication terminal apportioned by the apportioning unit 135 to the calling side and the called side to the calling side terminal and the called side terminal respectively (step 7).
07). That is, the apportioned communication charge on the calling side and the communication charge on the called side are respectively calculated by the meter 201 of the charging meter 130 of the terminal 1 and the meter 20 of the charging meter 130 of the terminal 2.
Register for 2.

If the communication path disconnected in step 705 is not an instruction for proportional charging communication (the charging flag is "1")
If not, other charging processing is performed.

When performing multipoint communication, the same operation as described above is performed for other communication paths.

In the multipoint communication as shown in FIG. 1, if the apportioning ratio is 50% on the transmitting side and 50% on the receiving side, the communication fee of each communication path is calculated as follows. Charge a yen Communication path 13: Communication charge b yen Communication path 14: Communication charge c yen Communication path 23: Communication charge d yen Communication path 24: Communication charge e yen Communication path 34: Communication Assuming that the charge is f yen, terminal 1 is ... communication charge (a + b + c) / 2 yen Terminal 2 is ... communication charge (a + d + e) / 2 yen Terminal 3 is ... communication charge ( b + d + f) / 2 yen Terminal 4 is charged as communication fee (c + e + f) / 2 yen.

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present embodiment, when the communication network 100 detects the communication to be prorated, the terminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 communicate with the logical communication path. A charge is calculated, and when the corresponding communication is completed, the calling side terminal 101 and the called side terminals 102, 103, 104 using the communication path are charged proportionally at a predetermined ratio (for example, half). By using, the communication fee can be apportioned to each terminal in proportion to the use of the communication path.
In the case where a multipoint communication conference is performed by connecting in a mesh form, a predetermined proportional value (for example, half) of the communication fee of each communication path used by each terminal is added,
It becomes the communication fee of each terminal, and there is no unfair feeling as in the case of charging the communication start side (originating side) terminal, and extremely reasonable charging can be performed.

In the case where the terminals are connected via the communication network, the communication path between the communication network and each terminal may be realized by logically multiplexing them on one physical line, or a plurality of physical lines may be realized. Obviously, the implementation of the present invention does not hinder the implementation of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Absent.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when communication is performed between two terminals via a communication network,
When setting up a communication path in a mesh form between terminals and performing multipoint communication, communication charges can be apportioned to each terminal in proportion to the use of the communication path, especially,
In the case of performing multipoint communication (conference), it is possible to eliminate the unfair feeling of the communication fee between the terminal on the transmitting side and the terminal on the receiving side using the communication path. As a result, smooth communication fee processing can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the charge meter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a working memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a management table for managing communication according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a detecting means for detecting that the apportioning billing communication is performed ;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the registration unit of the present embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration list in which a communication partner terminal that apportions a communication charge to a switching device according to a service order or the like in advance according to the present embodiment is registered.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the switching device of the communication network according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional charging method.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 communication network, 101, 102, 103, 104 terminal, 111, 112, 113, 114 communication line, 12
2, 123, 124: communication path, 130: billing meter,
131 ... working memory, 132 ... credit unit, 133 ...
Calculation unit, 134: apportioning unit, 135: registration unit, 201, 202, 203, 204: meter, 3
12, 313, 314, 323 memory, 50 management table, 51 communication path number field, 52 charging flag field, 53 calling terminal number field, 5
4 ... called terminal number field, 401, 402, 40
3,404 terminal, 405 communication network, 406 communication line, 407 communication path.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Kazunori Shimamura, Inventor 1-6-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Hideya Ichihara 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hideaki Mizumoto 1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-4-180333 (JP, A) 4-180332 (JP, A) JP-A-3-245657 (JP, A) JP-A-61-128665 (JP, A) JP-A-61-145059 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 15/00

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] We claim: 1. via a communication network connecting a plurality of communication terminals mutually, a charging system of the communication fee to each communication terminal for communication between a pair multipoint, to the communication network and registration means for registering the terminal number of the terminal that performs communication between multipoint, a calculating means for calculating a communication charge for logical communication each path set between registered terminal by said registration means, calculated by the calculation means a memory for storing the communication charge that is, when the inter-multipoint communication is terminated, the memorize in the memory
And is added by reading the communication charge, a proportional division means for proportionally communication fee at a ratio predetermined for each terminal, each end <br/> end billing meter communication charges are proportionally distributed by the apportioning means And a means for registering a communication fee . 2. The registration means determines whether or not the type of multipoint communication is a proportional charge communication when a calling terminal sets a communication path, and the registration means determines the proportional charge communication. Before
Serial apportioning means, when the communication is terminated, and is previously stored texture memory, reads the communication charge calculated by the calculating means, the billing to the terminal performing the communication between the multipoint by the ratio a predetermined the communication fee to be proportionally distributed, the registration calculation means, charging communication charge according to claim 1, characterized in that according to the communication fees are proportionally distributed by the apportioning means, updates the accounting meters for each terminal method. Wherein said registration means, the determination type of the communication is whether apportioning billing communication, when placing in the calling terminal, based on whether the service identification code predetermined is input
<br/> charging system of a communication fee according to claim 2, wherein the determining. And wherein onset signal terminal and a communication path determined by the correspondence between the called terminal, a management table for associating the charge calculation communication whether identifier, the registration means, when placing in the calling terminal, in advance When the service identification code for requesting the defined apportionment billing and the called terminal number are inputted in association with each other , the calling terminal number and the called terminal number are checked, and the communication path determined by these pairs is managed by the management. When the communication path is in the table, the communication path is associated with an identifier indicating the apportioning billing communication, and when updating the billing meter of each terminal, the accumulator means the apportioning billing communication in the management table. communication of claim 3, characterized in that updating only the terminal of the communication path identifier is associated indicating that
Billing method for fees . Includes a 5. onset signal terminal and a communication path determined by the correspondence between the called terminal, a management table for associating the charge calculation communication whether identifier, the registration means in advance when making calls in the calling terminal When the determined service identification code and the called terminal number are inputted in association with each other , first, the calling terminal number is checked,
If the calling terminal number is in the management table, a service identification code is accepted thereafter, and if the service identification code is for requesting apportionment billing, the called terminal number is subsequently checked and determined from these pairs. when the communication path is in said management table associates the identifier indicating the relevant communication path apportioning billing communication, the registration calculation unit, when updating the billing meter of each terminal, proportionally to the management table 4. The communication according to claim 3, wherein updating is performed only for terminals on a communication path associated with an identifier indicating billing communication.
Billing method for fees . Wherein said registration means, the determination type of the communication is whether apportioning billing communication, to claim 2, calling terminal number is equal to or determined by whether a predetermined number The billing method for the stated communication fee . Wherein said registration means, that the determining determines the type of the communication is whether apportioning billing communication, a pair of the calling terminal number and the called terminal number is in or not pressurized predetermined pairs 3. The communication fee charging method according to claim 2, wherein: