JP3199952B2 - Radio selective calling method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio selective calling method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a method of holding a receiver by prepaying a fee or by using a caller charging system. The present invention relates to a radio selective calling method such as a so-called pager and a device therefor, which eliminates the need for a contract with a service company of a user and facilitates radio selective calling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional radio selective calling service,
The service company concludes a service contract with the receiver owner and periodically collects reception fees from the receiver owner. If there is no charge from the sender of the call message and there is a transmission request, the service center stores in the call number storage unit storing the call number of the contractor whether the number requested for transmission belongs to the contractor. Must be checked to prevent unauthorized transmission to anyone other than the subscriber.

[0003] This call number storage unit also stores an ID code that is actually transmitted wirelessly, corresponding to the call number. In addition, an emergency storage unit that stores the same data as the data stored in the call number is also necessary in case the data does not work or cannot operate due to some cause in the call number storage unit. In some cases,

When the number matches that of the contractor, a transmission message is accepted. The service center converts the call number requested for transmission into an actual wireless transmission ID code, converts the data together with the message into a wireless transmission signal,
The data is transmitted to the corresponding radio transmitting station, and the radio transmitting station transmits a signal by radio. In addition, in order to collect fees from the contractor, the service company manages a profile that manages the address and name in addition to storing the caller's call number, and registers a series of data including the call number to the center. Need a registration system.

[0005] In the United States, a radio service for collecting a transmission fee from a sender is also provided. However, a reception contract is concluded with the receiver, a basic fee is periodically collected, and a call number requested to be transmitted is confirmed. The system is basically the same as the paging service in Japan.

[0006]

The conventional radio selective calling device has a call number storage unit so that a message is not transmitted to a user other than the contractor, and the receiver has a radio selective calling service company. The contract is made and the center memorizes the calling number. When there is a transmission request from the sender, a search unit that searches for a number that matches the number stored in the call number storage unit is used to check whether the call number requested for transmission is that of the contractor. Have. In addition, in case the calling number storage unit cannot be accessed for some reason, or in case of any failure in the storage unit, in order to require an emergency storage unit or to collect charges from the contractor for the service company, In addition to storing the call number of the contractor, a system for managing a profile such as an address and a name, a registration system for registering a series of data including the call number to the center, and the like were required.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and proposes a new service system for collecting a fee from a sender, thereby eliminating a contract between a receiver holder and a service company. Alternatively, it is another object of the present invention to propose a radio selective calling method and a radio selective calling method which enables a simpler radio calling without having to collect a periodic fee from a receiver holder.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (1) a wireless communication system installed in a service center;
In the selective calling device, charge ID and calling from the sender
Phone that accepts transmission requests consisting of numbers and messages
A line section connected to the network and a message paid by the sender.
Fee to store message transmission fee as fee ID and amount
Money storage unit and the charge ID of the received transmission request
Check if it is stored in the storage unit, and if it is
If you read the balance of the charge ID, deduct the usage fee,
A charge processing unit for updating and storing the balance;
Call number and message to radio selective call signal
A data processing unit to be converted;
Or (2) no wireless transmission unit
In the line selection calling method, the charge ID and call from the sender
Send request consisting of a delivery number and a message
Step of receiving a line section of the telephone,
Accepting the input of the charge ID, and charge processing
The unit checks the balance stored in the charge storage unit, and
Steps to accept the input of the delivery number and message
And the call number and the message for which transmission was requested
The data processing unit converts the signal
Transmitting from the communication unit; and
Subtract the usage fee from the balance and add the new balance to the charge
Updating and storing the information in the storage unit.
(3) The radio selective calling device according to (1).
The sender sends the message transmission fee to the carrier.
Payment, agency fees and service charges
Payment, and the sender goes through the caller billing system.
Sending a transmission request to the service center
(4) The radio selective calling method described in (2) above.
The sender's transmission request via the caller billing system
To access the service center
This is the feature.

[0009]

According to the radio selective calling method and apparatus of the present invention, a radio paging service company can collect a fee from a sender, a receiver holder can contract with a radio paging service company, or a receiver can use a radio paging center. It is no longer necessary to register in a telephone number, and the need for a conventionally required call number storage unit, call number search unit, system for managing the profile of a subscriber, and the like are eliminated, thereby making it possible to provide a simple wireless selective call apparatus. become. In addition, by eliminating the need for the call number storage unit, call number search unit, or management system, there is no need for a person involved in the call, and a less expensive radio selective call service becomes possible. It is also possible to lower the service fee.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a radio selective calling apparatus according to the present invention, and is a schematic diagram of a network configuration and a radio device of a service company center. In the figure,
11 is a sender, 12 is a personal computer, 13 is a telephone, 14 is a telephone network, 15 is a caller charging system, 1
6 is a service center, 16a is a line section, 16b is a data processing section, 16c is a transmission section, 16d is a charge processing section, 16e
Is a charge storage unit, 17-1 to 17-n are wireless transmission stations, 18 is a receiver, and 19 is a receiver.

[0011] The sender 11 pays a message transmission fee by a prepaid card or directly to a radio paging service company. The prepaid card must have a fee ID
Is set, and the charge storage unit 1 of the service center 16 is set.
6e stores the charge ID and the amount. When paying directly to the wireless paging service company, the set fee ID and the paid amount are similarly stored in the fee storage unit 16e. Sender 1
1 is a charge ID to the service center 16 via the telephone 13;
Send the call number and message. The service center 16 receives a transmission request through the line unit 16a. The line section 16a includes a voice guidance utterance device and a DTMF.
(Dual Tone Multiple Frequency) receiving device.

The charge processing unit 16d checks whether the charge ID received by the DTMF (PB signal, push-tone signal) is stored in the charge storage unit 16e, and if so, reads out the balance of the ID and uses it. After deducting the fee, the fee storage unit 16e updates and stores the balance. The data processing unit 16b converts the call ID and the message requested to be transmitted by the DTMF into a transmission signal. The converted signal is transmitted to the transmitting unit 16c, which transmits the signals to the radio transmitting stations 17-1 to 17-n.
-1 to 17-n transmit signals wirelessly. The receiver 18 receives the message at the receiver 19.

[0013] Dial Q ² (registered trademark) (NTT (registered trademark)), personal computer telecommunications carriers, etc.
In the case of using a so-called caller billing system 15, which collects usage charges from the caller on behalf of the caller,
The sender 11 requests the personal computer 12 or the telephone 13 to transmit a message to the service center 16 via the caller charging system 15. The call ID and the message for which transmission is requested pass through the line section 16a, are converted into transmission signals by the data processing section 16b, and are transmitted to the transmission section 16c.
And transmitted wirelessly from the wireless transmission stations 17-1 to 17-n. The receiver 18 receives the message at the receiver 19.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio selective calling apparatus when the transmission fee is paid in advance. Hereinafter, the steps will be sequentially described. When the sender 11 accesses the service center 16 with the telephone 13, the line section 16a receives a call (step 1). The voice guidance generator of the line section 16a issues a guidance to the effect that the input of the fee ID is accepted (step 2), and the DTMF
The input of the fee ID is received at (step 3). The charge processing unit 16d checks whether the input ID is stored in the charge storage unit 16e, and confirms that the balance remains (step 4). After confirming the balance, the voice guidance utterance device gives guidance to accept the input of the call number (step 5), and accepts the input of the call number by DTMF (step 6).

[0015] When the call number is inputted, guidance for accepting the input of a message is issued (step
7), DTMF message input is accepted (st
ep8). The call number and the message for which the transmission request has been made are converted into transmission signals by the data processing unit 16b, transmitted to the transmission unit 16c, and further transmitted to the radio transmission stations 17-1 to 17-.
n (step 9). The fee processing unit 16d subtracts the usage fee from the read balance (step 10), and the new balance is updated and stored in the fee storage unit 16e (step 1).
1). Radio transmitting stations 17-1 to 17- which have received the transmission signal
n sends out a transmission signal by radio (step 12).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a usage fee paid by the message sender when using the caller charging system of FIG. The sender 11 pays the call charge 21 to the communication carrier having the telephone network 14, the agency fee 22, the service charge 2
3 is paid to the company having the caller charging system 15. The service provider having the caller charging system 15 pays the service charge 23 to the wireless selective call service service provider among the collected charges. When the personal computer communication carrier has the caller charging system 15, the agency fee may include the line connection fee.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio selective calling device when the caller charging system is used. Hereinafter, the steps will be sequentially described. When the sender 11 accesses the service center 16 with the personal computer 12 or the telephone 13 via the caller charging system 15, the line unit 16a receives a call (step 31). The voice guidance utterance device of the line section 16a gives guidance to accept the input of the call number (step 32) and accepts the input of the call number (step 33). When the call number is entered, the system will give guidance that the message will be accepted (step
34), a message input is accepted (step 35).
The call number and the message for which the transmission request has been made are converted into transmission signals by the data processing section 16b, transmitted to the transmission section 16c, and further transmitted to the radio transmission stations 17-1 to 17-n (step 36). Radio transmitting station 1 that has received the transmission signal
7-1 to 17 @ n transmit transmission signals by radio (ste
p37). Instead of the caller billing system, it is of course possible to use a credit card and collect a fee from the sender.

[0018]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Conventionally, a call number storage unit, a call number search unit, a system for managing a profile of a contractor, and the like, which are required, become unnecessary, and a simpler wireless selective call device can be provided. (2) A contract between the receiver holder and the radio selective calling service company is not required, and the use of the radio selective calling service is simplified. (3) Since a fee is collected from the sender, the usage fee of the receiver of the called side can be eliminated. (4) the call number storage unit, the call number search unit,
Eliminating the need for management systems, contracts with receiver holders, and registration of receivers eliminates the need for those involved in the service, thus enabling a less expensive radio selective calling service, and in comparison with conventional services. It is also possible to lower the service fee.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a radio selective calling apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the radio selective calling apparatus when a fee is prepaid according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of fee payment in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the radio selective calling device when the caller charging system according to the present invention is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... recipient, 12 ... personal computer, 13 ...
Telephone, 14: Telephone network, 15: Caller billing system, 1
6 service center, 16a line section, 16b data processing section, 16c transmission section, 16d charge processing section, 16e
... Charge storage unit, 17-1 to 17-n ... Wireless transmission station, 18 ...
Receiver, 19 ... Wireless selective call receiver.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuo Ueno 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Norihisa Shibata 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Sharp shares In-house (56) References JP-A-3-114352 (JP, A) Toshihiko Sekine, Shinji Mori, "Advanced Network Service Expanded by Flexible Rate Design Introduction of" α Charging Method "to Dial Q2 Service", NTT Technical Journal, March 1, 1991, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 62-64 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B ⁷ /24-7/26 H04M 3/42 H04M 3/424-3/436 H04M 11/00-11/10 H04M 15 / 00-15/38 H04Q 7/00-7/38

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A service center, which is provided by a sender.
Transmission ID, call number, message
A line unit connected to a telephone network for receiving a request;
The message transmission fee paid by the person
Charge storage unit for storing the amount,
Check if the fee ID is stored in the fee storage unit
If it is stored, the balance of the charge ID is read and the charge ID is read.
A charge processing unit that deducts the charge and updates and stores the balance;
The call number and message for which the transmission was requested
A data processing unit for converting to a selective call signal;
Wireless transmission unit for transmitting a selective call signal
Wireless selective calling device. 2. The charge ID, call number,
A request for sending a message
A step of receiving an incoming call, and a step of receiving a charge ID by the line unit.
And the charge processing unit check the balance stored in the charge storage unit.
Accept the call number and message input
Step and the calling number and message for which transmission was requested
The data processing unit converts the signal into a radio selective calling signal,
Transmitting from the, the fee processing unit, subtract the usage fee from the balance,
Step of updating and storing a new balance in the charge storage unit
And a radio selective calling method, comprising: 3. The radio selective calling device according to claim 1, wherein
The sender sends the message transmission fee to the carrier.
Payment, agency fees and service charges
Payment, and the sender goes through the caller billing system.
Requesting transmission to the service center
A radio selective calling device, characterized by: 4. The radio selective calling method according to claim 2, wherein
The sender's transmission request via the caller billing system.
Access to the service center
Wireless selective calling method.