JP5559028B2 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, MOBILE DEVICE, GATEWAY EXCHANGE MACHINE, MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a mobile device, a gateway exchange, a management device, and a communication method that perform communication connection control for a prepaid mobile device.

  Generally, a prepaid type mobile device using a CS domain such as a voice call is known. In recent years, a prepaid type mobile device for packet data communication has been considered, and a method described in Patent Document 1 is considered as a method of charge management. The technology described in Patent Document 1 is a technology for performing data communication between mobile devices using GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), and is applied to a prepaid communication service for efficient charging processing. There is a description of what to do.

JP 2005-204323 A

  However, with the technology described in the conventional patent document 1, it may be difficult to accurately grasp the communication fee, and it may not be possible to disconnect the communication properly.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system, a mobile device, a gateway exchange, a management device, and a communication method that can accurately grasp a communication fee and perform appropriate communication disconnection.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a communication system according to the present invention is a communication system including a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, and an exchange arranged below the gateway exchange and performing communication connection control with respect to a mobile station. The gateway exchange includes a first counting unit that counts an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device, an uplink data amount counted by the first counting unit, and Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the notified downlink data amount, and disconnecting means for disconnecting communication with the mobile device based on the total data amount calculated by the summing means; And the exchange is counted by a second counting unit that counts a downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device, and the second counting unit. Ri direction of a data volume and a notification unit configured to notify the gateway exchange.

  Further, the communication method of the present invention is a communication method of a communication system comprising a gateway exchange for connecting to a network and an exchange that is arranged below the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control with respect to the mobile equipment. A first counting step of counting the uplink data amount of the uplink data transmitted by the mobile device, and the exchange determines the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device. A second counting step for counting, a notifying step for notifying the gateway switch of the downstream data amount counted by the second counting step, and the gateway switch being counted by the first counting step. A summing step of calculating a total data amount by summing the uplink data amount and the downlink data amount notified from the exchange; Gateway exchange comprises based on the total data amount calculated by the summing step, a cutting step for cutting the communication with the mobile station, the.

  According to the present invention, the gateway exchange counts the uplink data amount of the uplink data transmitted by the mobile station. On the other hand, the exchange counts the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device, and notifies the gateway exchange of the counted downlink data amount. In the gateway exchange, the total data amount is calculated by adding the counted uplink data amount and the downlink data amount notified from the exchange, and the movement is performed based on the calculated total data amount. Disconnect communication with the machine. As a result, the location where the uplink data and the downlink data are counted is changed, the uplink data is counted at a position relatively far from the mobile device, and the downlink data is relatively compared. By counting at the position on the mobile device side, it is possible to grasp a more accurate amount of transmitted data. At the gateway exchange, it is possible to grasp the amount of each of the uplink data and the downlink data, grasp the total amount of data in the mobile device, and grasp the total transmitted data amount. be able to. Therefore, the cutting process based on the more accurate total data amount can be performed.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the gateway exchange transmits a total data amount calculated by the summing means to a management device when communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile station is disconnected. Preferably further means are provided.

  According to the present invention, when communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile station is disconnected, the total data amount calculated at the end of communication is notified to the management device by transmitting the calculated total data amount to the management device. The management apparatus can grasp the remaining communicable data amount.

  Further, in the communication system of the present invention, the transmission means in the gateway exchange is a total calculated by the summing means at every predetermined time while communication is connected between the gateway exchange and the mobile equipment. It is preferable to transmit the data amount to the management device.

  According to the present invention, the total amount of data in the middle of communication is transmitted by transmitting the calculated total amount of data to the management device every predetermined time while the communication is connected between the gateway exchange and the mobile station. Even if the gateway switch or exchange goes down during the communication and the total data amount at the end of the communication cannot be notified to the management device, at least the total data amount during the communication Can be grasped. Therefore, it is possible to manage the data amount in consideration of the risk when the gateway exchange or the exchange goes down.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, when the gateway exchange receives a communication connection request from the mobile station, the gateway switch indicates a remaining data amount that can be transmitted from the management apparatus or the exchange to the mobile station in the future. Acquire the amount of data, or the amount of transmitted data and the maximum amount of communication data that can be transmitted / received so far, and based on the amount of remaining data or the amount of transmitted data and the maximum amount of communication data, It is preferable to include an acquisition unit that determines whether or not communication connection is possible, and a communication processing unit that does not perform communication connection with the mobile device when the acquisition unit determines that communication connection is not possible.

  According to this invention, when a communication connection request is received from a mobile device, the remaining amount of data indicating the amount of data that can be transmitted in the future associated with the mobile device from the management device or exchange, or the transmission / reception data transmitted so far Acquire the amount of transmitted data and the maximum amount of communication data that can be transmitted and received, and based on the acquired amount of remaining data or the amount of transmitted data and the maximum amount of communication data, communication connection with the mobile device is not possible If it is determined, the communication connection with the mobile device is not performed. As a result, when the maximum amount of communication data initially contracted is used up, the outgoing call is restricted, so that appropriate communication connection processing can be performed for a mobile device with a prepaid contract.

Further, the communication system of the present invention stores a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, an exchange disposed below the gateway exchange and performing communication connection control for the mobile equipment, and a data amount transmitted and received by the mobile equipment. In the communication system including the management device, the gateway exchange includes a first counting unit that counts an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device, and an uplink counted by the first counting unit. First notification means for notifying the management device of the amount of data in the direction, and the exchange is a second counting means for counting the amount of data in the downlink direction transmitted to the mobile station. And second notification means for notifying the management device of the amount of data in the down direction counted by the second counting means, wherein the management device is configured by the first notification means. A summing means for calculating the total data amount by adding the known uplink data amount and the downlink data amount notified by the second notification means; a storage means for storing the maximum communication data amount; Disconnect that instructs the gateway switch or the switch to disconnect communication with the mobile unit based on the total data amount calculated by the summing unit and the maximum communication data amount stored in the storage unit Instruction means.
In addition, the communication method of the present invention includes a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, an exchange that is arranged under the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control with respect to the mobile equipment, and the amount of data transmitted and received by the mobile equipment and the maximum In a communication method of a communication system including a management device that stores a communication data amount, a first counting step in which the gateway exchange counts an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device, and the gateway A first notification step in which the exchange notifies the management device of the uplink data amount counted in the first counting step; and the exchange transmits the downlink data transmitted to the mobile station in the downlink direction. A second counting step for counting the amount of data; and the switching device determines the data amount in the downlink direction counted in the second counting step. The total amount of data is obtained by adding the second notification step to be notified, and the management device adding the uplink data amount notified by the first notification step and the downlink data amount notified by the second notification step. A summing step for calculating the communication amount, and instructing the gateway switch or the switch to disconnect communication with the mobile device based on the total data amount and the maximum communication data amount calculated by the summing step. A cutting instruction step.

  According to the present invention, in the gateway exchange, the uplink data amount of the uplink data transmitted by the mobile device is counted, the counted uplink data amount is notified to the management device, and the exchange sends the data to the mobile device. The downstream data amount of the transmitted downstream data is counted, and the counted downstream data amount is notified to the management apparatus. Then, the management device adds the notified uplink data amount and downlink data amount to calculate a total data amount, and based on the total data amount and the maximum communication data amount, the gateway switch or the exchange Is instructed to disconnect the communication with the mobile device. As a result, the location where the uplink data and the downlink data are counted is changed, the uplink data is counted at a position relatively far from the mobile device, and the downlink data is relatively compared. By counting at the position on the mobile device side, it is possible to grasp a more accurate amount of transmitted data. Then, in the management device, it is possible to grasp the data amount of each of the uplink data and the downlink data, grasp the total data amount in the mobile device, and grasp the entire transmitted data amount be able to. Therefore, the cutting process based on the more accurate total data amount can be performed.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the first notifying unit in the gateway exchange and the second notifying unit in the exchange are upstream data when communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile unit is disconnected. It is preferable to transmit the amount and the amount of data in the downlink direction to the management device.

  According to the present invention, when the communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile station is disconnected, the management device side transmits the uplink data amount and the downlink data amount to the management device. The amount of communicable data can be grasped.

  Further, in the communication system of the present invention, the first notification means in the gateway exchange and the second notification means in the exchange are arranged at predetermined intervals while communication is connected between the gateway exchange and the mobile equipment. Preferably, the measured uplink data amount and downlink data amount are transmitted to the management device.

  According to the present invention, by transmitting the measured uplink data amount and downlink data amount to the management device at predetermined time intervals while the communication is connected between the gateway exchange and the mobile device. Even if the total amount of data in the middle of communication can be notified to the management device, and the gateway switch or switch goes down in the middle of communication and the total amount of data at the end of communication cannot be notified to the management device, at least the communication The total amount of data along the way can be grasped by the management device. Therefore, it is possible to manage the data amount in consideration of the risk when the gateway exchange or the exchange goes down.

  Further, in the communication system of the present invention, the first notification means notifies the management apparatus of destination information indicating an instruction destination for disconnecting from the mobile device, together with an uplink data amount, Preferably, the instruction means in the management apparatus issues a disconnection instruction to the gateway exchange indicated to the destination information.

  According to the present invention, the gateway exchange notifies the management apparatus of destination information indicating an instruction destination for disconnection processing with the mobile station together with the amount of data in the uplink direction. By issuing a disconnection instruction to the gateway exchange indicated by, the disconnection instruction can be accurately issued to the gateway exchange used by the mobile station for communication.

The present invention, in addition to capture as an invention of a communication system and method described above can be considered also as an invention of a related door switch and management device.

Further, the gateway exchange of the present invention is a communication exchange that is connected to an exchange that counts the amount of data in the downstream direction with respect to the mobile device, and performs communication control of the mobile device to perform communication connection with a network. The first counting means for counting the uplink data amount of the uplink data transmitted by the mobile device, the uplink data amount counted by the first counting means, and the downlink data notified from the exchange Summing means for summing up the data amount to calculate the total data amount, and disconnection means for disconnecting communication with the mobile device based on the total data amount calculated by the summing means.

Further, the management device of the present invention is a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, and a management device that is arranged below the gateway exchange and that communicates and connects with an exchange that performs communication connection control for the mobile device. The storage means for storing the communication data amount, the sum of the uplink data amount from the mobile device notified from the gateway exchange and the downlink data amount for the mobile device notified by the second notification means, Summing means for calculating the total data amount, and based on the total data amount calculated by the summing means and the maximum communication data amount stored in the storage means, the gateway switch or the switch, the mobile unit Disconnection instruction means for instructing to disconnect the communication between the two.

  According to the present invention, the upstream data and the downstream data are counted differently, the upstream data is counted at a position relatively far from the mobile device, and the downstream data is By counting relatively at the position on the mobile device side, it is possible to grasp a more accurate amount of transmitted data. Based on these data amounts, the total data amount in the mobile device can be grasped. Therefore, the cutting process based on the more accurate total data amount can be performed.

It is a system configuration figure showing the system configuration of communication system 10 of this embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a gateway exchange 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an exchange 200. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the gateway exchange 100. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the gateway exchange 100a. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the exchange 200a. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the service control apparatus 400a. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the gateway exchange 100a, the exchange 200a, and the service control apparatus 400a. It is a system configuration figure of communications system 10b which is a modification. It is explanatory drawing when the moving apparatus 300 moves in a visited area.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a system configuration of a communication system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system 10 includes a gateway exchange (GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node) 100, an exchange (SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node) 200, a mobile device 300, and a service control device (HLR: Home Location Register) 400. It is comprised including. The gateway exchange 100 is a device for connecting to an external network constructed by another communication carrier or the like and a network composed of various server devices such as ISP (Internet Service Provider). The exchange 200 is a subordinate of the gateway exchange 100. Is a device that performs communication control for the mobile device 300. The service control device 400 is a management device such as an HLR, and stores a profile such as user information.

  In the present embodiment, a billing process is performed using a so-called prepaid mobile device 300 that pays for data communication by prepaid. Note that the mobile device itself does not have to be a prepaid dedicated terminal, and may be any mobile device that enables data communication based on a prepaid contract. First, when the mobile device 300 performs a transmission process, the mobile device 300 is connected to the exchange 200 and the gateway exchange 100 via a BS (Base Station), an RNC (Radio Network Controller), or the like, and is connected to another communication terminal or It is possible to connect to a site via a network. Further, the service control device 400 stores location information of the mobile device 300, prepaid contract information (maximum connection time or maximum communication packet data amount), and the gateway switch 100 and the switch 200 include the contract information. Based on this, communication connection processing can be performed.

  More specifically, the gateway exchange 100 counts the packet data amount of the packet data transmitted from the mobile device 300, and the exchange 200 counts the packet data amount of the packet data transmitted to the mobile device 300. Thus, the so-called upstream packet data can be counted by the gateway switch 100, and the downstream packet data can be counted by the switch 200, so that more accurate communication amount can be grasped. can do. That is, the packet data amount for the downlink packet data is counted at a point closer to the mobile device 300, and the packet data amount for the uplink packet data is counted at a point far from the mobile device 300. Therefore, it can be considered that the communication has successfully reached the other party, and a more accurate amount of packet data can be counted.

  Next, the gateway exchange 100 of the communication system 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the gateway exchange 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the gateway exchange 100 includes a communication control unit 101, a counting unit 102 (first counting unit), a calculation unit 103 (summing unit), a storage unit 104, and a determination unit 105. .

  The communication control unit 101 is a part that performs communication processing on packet data transmitted from the mobile device 300 via the exchange 200. Specifically, the communication control unit 101 includes a communication processing unit 101a (communication processing unit) and an acquisition unit 101b (acquisition unit). ), A receiving unit 101c, a transmitting unit 101d (transmitting unit), and a cutting unit 101e (cutting unit).

  The communication processing unit 101 a is a part that performs communication connection processing for the mobile device 300.

  The acquisition unit 101b receives, from the service control apparatus 400, the remaining packet data amount indicating the amount of packet data that can be transmitted in the future associated with the mobile device 300, or the transmitted packet data amount of packet data transmitted and received by the mobile device 300, and This is a part for acquiring the maximum amount of communication packet data that can be transmitted and received.

  The receiving unit 101 c is a part that receives the amount of packet data counted in the exchange 200. Since the exchange 200 transmits the packet data amount every predetermined time, the packet data amount is received every predetermined time.

  The transmission unit 101 d is a part that transmits the total packet data amount calculated by the calculation unit 103 to the service control apparatus 400. The transmission unit 101d performs total packet data transmission processing at predetermined time intervals or at the time of cutting processing by the cutting unit 101e.

  The cutting unit 101e is a part that cuts the communication processing in the communication processing unit 101a based on the determination in the determination unit 105.

  The counting unit 102 is a part that counts the amount of uplink packet data in the communication processing unit 101a. Upstream packet data can be determined based on destination information and source information described in the header of the packet data. The sender information is not necessarily essential information.

  Arithmetic unit 103 performs transmission / reception in mobile device 300 by summing the packet data amount of uplink packet data in counting unit 102 and the downlink packet data amount received by receiving unit 101c in a predetermined time unit. This is a part for calculating the total amount of packet data. This total packet data amount is the amount of packet data transmitted / received by the mobile device 300 per predetermined unit time.

  The storage unit 104 is a part that stores the charge management data of the mobile device 300 acquired from the service control device 400 when the mobile device 300 transmits. This charge management data includes the amount of transmitted and received packet data transmitted / received by the mobile device 300 before the transmission and the maximum communication packet data amount that can be transmitted / received based on the prepaid fee contracted with the communication carrier of the mobile device 300. It has been described.

  Whether determining section 105 can maintain the communication processing of mobile device 300 based on the total packet data amount calculated in computing section 103, the transmitted / received packet data amount stored in storage section 104, and the maximum communication packet data amount. It is a part to judge. That is, when the total value of the total amount of packet data transmitted every predetermined time and the amount of transmitted / received packet data exceeds the maximum communication packet data amount, the determination unit 105 exceeds the contracted packet data amount. Therefore, it is possible to determine that the communication process cannot be maintained because no more billing is possible. Then, the disconnecting unit 101e disconnects the communication processing in the communication processing unit 101a based on the determination in the determining unit 105.

  The storage unit 104 stores the transmitted / received packet data amount and the contracted maximum communication packet data amount. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remaining packet data amount may be stored. That is, the remaining packet data amount indicating how much packet data can be transmitted / received and the remaining amount may be stored. The remaining packet data amount may be stored in advance in the service control device 400, or may be calculated by the gateway exchange 100 based on the maximum communication packet data amount and the transmitted / received packet data amount.

  Next, the exchange 200 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the exchange 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the exchange 200 includes a communication control unit 201, a counting unit 202 (second counting unit), and a storage unit 203. The communication control unit 201 further includes a communication processing unit 201a and a transmission unit 201b (notification means).

  The communication processing unit 201a is a part that performs position registration processing and communication connection processing in response to a location registration request from the mobile device 300 and transmission processing.

  The transmitting unit 201b is a part that transmits the packet data amount in the downlink direction counted by the counting unit 202 to the gateway exchange 100 every predetermined time.

  The counting unit 202 is a part that counts the amount of downlink packet data transmitted to the mobile device 300.

  The storage unit 203 is a part that stores the amount of downlink packet data counted by the counting unit 202 in the exchange 200. The amount of packet data stored in the storage unit 203 is notified to the gateway exchange 100 by the transmission unit 201b. As shown in FIG. 10, the exchange 200 can take over the amount of packet data stored in the storage unit 203.

  The exchange 200 is arranged for each predetermined communication area, and when the mobile station 300 crosses the area, it is necessary to take over the packet data amount counted so far. As shown in FIG. 10, according to communication control such as RNC (not shown), the source exchange 200 transmits a profile to the destination exchange 200, so that the communication processing unit 201a It is possible to acquire a profile including the amount of packet data counted in the exchange 200 that was in the area. Then, by storing in the storage unit 203, it is possible to perform a packet data amount takeover process together with the profile. In general, the profile includes user information of the mobile device 300 and the like, and is information used for general communication connection. The profile of this embodiment is different from a general profile in that it includes a newly counted packet data amount.

  Processing of the gateway exchange 100 in the communication system 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the gateway exchange 100.

  First, when a call request is received from the mobile device 300 via the exchange 200, the communication connection processing is started by the communication processing unit 101a (S101). Then, the acquisition unit 101b extracts the identification information (IMSI stored in the SIM) of the user of the mobile device 300 included in the transmission request (S102), and uses the identification information as a key from the service control device 400. Corresponding fee management data is acquired (S103). Here, although it is acquired from the service control apparatus 400, since the exchange 200 has also acquired fee management data at the time of location registration of the mobile device 300, the gateway exchange 100 acquires the fee management data from the exchange 200. You may make it do.

  Based on the acquired fee management data, the acquisition unit 101b determines whether there is a remaining packet data amount that can be transmitted and received (S104). That is, it is determined whether or not the amount of remaining packet data that can be transmitted / received described in the charge management data is 0 (or less than a predetermined value). Here, if it is determined that the packet data amount is 0 (or less than a predetermined value), the processing ends without performing the communication connection processing by the communication processing unit 101a. If it is determined that the amount of packet data is not 0 (or less than a predetermined value), a session is established and communication processing is performed by the communication processing unit 101a (S105).

  Then, while the session is established between the mobile device 300 and the communication partner, the packet data amount of the uplink packet data transmitted from the mobile device 300 is counted by the counting unit 102 (S106). While performing the counting process, the receiving unit 101c determines whether or not a notification of the downlink packet data amount counted in the exchange 200 has been received (S107).

  Here, if it is determined that the notification has been received, the determination unit 105 determines whether or not the communication connection state can be maintained based on the charge management data (S108). That is, the total packet data amount obtained by adding the packet data amount in the downlink direction in the exchange 200 that has received the notification and the packet data amount in the uplink direction counted by the counting unit 102 is calculated every predetermined time, and the accumulated The determination unit 105 determines whether or not the amount exceeds the amount of remaining packet data calculated based on the amount of transmitted / received packet data described in the charge management data and the contracted maximum communication packet data amount.

  If it is determined that the accumulated amount of the total packet data exceeds the remaining packet data and the communication connection cannot be maintained, the accumulated amount of the total packet data transmitted / received up to that time is notified to the service control apparatus 400. In step S109, the disconnection unit 101e performs communication disconnection processing on the communication processing unit 101a.

  On the other hand, in S107, when there is no notification of the packet data amount from the exchange 200, the receiving unit 101c determines whether or not a disconnection instruction is received from an external server such as an ISP or the mobile device 300 (S111). If it is determined that the disconnection instruction has been received, the transmission unit 101d transmits the accumulated amount of the total packet data transmitted and received up to that time to the service control apparatus 400 (S113). In addition, when it is determined that the disconnection instruction has not been received by the transmission unit 101d and a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous notification processing of the total packet data amount, accumulation of the total packet data amount transmitted and received in the next time unit The amount transmission process is performed on the service control apparatus 400 (S112).

  In the service control apparatus 400, the latest accumulated amount of the total packet data amount can be periodically grasped by acquiring the accumulated amount of the total packet data amount calculated by the gateway exchange 100 every predetermined time. In the above description, the accumulated amount of the total packet data amount is notified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the total packet data amount (not the accumulated amount) calculated in a predetermined time unit is sequentially transmitted to perform service control. The apparatus 400 may calculate the cumulative amount of the total packet data amount by sequentially adding the received total packet data amount.

  In this way, the gateway exchange 100 grasps the downlink packet data amount from the exchange 200, and sums it with the uplink packet data amount counted by itself, thereby calculating the total packet data amount. An accurate amount of packet data can be calculated.

  Next, the function and effect of the communication system 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the gateway exchange 100, the communication processing unit 101a performs communication connection processing in response to a transmission request from the mobile device 300, and then the counting unit 102 transmits the upstream packet data of the upstream packet data transmitted by the mobile device 300. Count the amount of data. On the other hand, in the exchange 200, the communication processing unit 201a performs communication connection processing, and the counting unit 202 counts the amount of downlink packet data of the downlink packet data transmitted to the mobile device 300. Then, the transmitting unit 201b notifies the gateway switch 100 of the downlink packet data amount counted by the counting unit 202. Then, in the gateway exchange 100, the calculation unit 103 calculates the total packet data amount by adding the counted uplink packet data amount and the downlink packet data amount notified from the exchange 200, and disconnects the packet data. Unit 101e disconnects communication with mobile device 300 based on the accumulated amount of the calculated total packet data amount.

  As a result, the location where the upstream packet data and the downstream packet data are counted is changed, and the upstream packet data is counted at a position relatively far from the mobile device 300. Can grasp the amount of transmitted packet data more accurately by relatively counting at the position on the mobile device 300 side. In the gateway switch 100, the packet data amount of each of the upstream packet data and the downstream packet data can be grasped, the total packet data amount in the mobile device can be grasped, and the entire packet data is transmitted. The amount of packet data can be grasped. Therefore, the cutting process based on the more accurate total packet data amount can be performed.

  Further, in the gateway exchange 100 according to the present embodiment, the transmission unit 101d transmits the calculated total packet data amount to the service control apparatus 400 when communication between the gateway exchange 100 and the mobile device 300 is disconnected. Thus, the total amount of packet data at the end of communication can be notified to the service control apparatus 400, and the remaining controllable data amount can be grasped on the service control apparatus 400 side.

  In the gateway exchange 100 according to the present embodiment, the transmission unit 101d is configured so that the transmission unit 101d calculates the total packet data calculated by the arithmetic unit 103 every predetermined time while communication is connected between the gateway exchange 100 and the mobile device 300. By transmitting the amount to the service control device 400, the total packet data amount in the middle of communication can be notified to the service control device 400, and the gateway switch 100 or the switch 200 goes down in the middle of communication and the total packet at the end of communication Even if the data amount cannot be notified to the service control apparatus 400, the service control apparatus 400 can grasp at least the total packet data amount during the communication. Therefore, it is possible to manage the amount of packet data considering the risk when the gateway exchange 100 or the exchange 200 goes down.

  In the gateway exchange 100 according to the present embodiment, when the communication processing unit 101a receives a communication connection request from the mobile device 300, the acquisition unit 101b can transmit from the service control device 400 to the mobile device 300 in the future. The remaining packet data amount indicating the amount of packet data, or the transmitted data amount of packet data transmitted so far and the maximum communication packet data amount that can be transmitted and received are obtained, and the acquired remaining packet data amount or transmitted packet data amount Based on the maximum communication packet data amount, it is determined whether communication connection with the mobile device 300 is possible. If it is determined that this is not possible, the communication processing unit 101a does not establish communication connection with the mobile device 300. As a result, when the maximum amount of communication packet data contracted for the first time is used up, the outgoing call is restricted, so that appropriate communication connection processing for the mobile device 300 with the prepaid contract can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the gateway switch 100 performs the packet data summing process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the switch 200 may perform the packet data summing process. That is, the packet data amount in the upstream direction counted by the gateway switch 100 is notified to the switch 200, and is added up with the packet data amount in the downlink direction counted by the switch 200. The total packet data amount subjected to the summation process is reflected in the charge management data acquired by the exchange 200 during the location registration process, and the accumulated total packet data amount is stored. Then, the exchange 200 notifies the service control device 400 of the amount of packet data when communication is completed or every predetermined time has elapsed.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a communication system 10a according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the communication system 10a of this embodiment, the gateway switch 100a counts the amount of packet data in the upstream direction, and the gateway switch 100a counts the amount of packet data in the downstream direction. Then, the service control apparatus 400a is notified of the counted uplink packet data amount and downlink packet data amount.

  In the service control apparatus 400a, the total packet data amount transmitted / received in the mobile device 300 is calculated by summing up the uplink packet data amount and the downlink packet data amount, and the communication state is maintained or The disconnection is determined. Although the system configuration is the same as that of the communication system 10 of the first embodiment, the functional configurations of the gateway exchange 100a, the exchange 200a, and the service control device 400a are different in the above points.

  First, the gateway exchange 100a will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions of the gateway exchange 100a. As shown in FIG. 5, the gateway exchange 100a includes a communication control unit 101x (communication processing unit 101a, acquisition unit 101b, transmission unit 101d (first notification unit), cutting unit 101e), and a counting unit 102. ing.

  The communication control unit 101 is a part that performs communication processing on packet data transmitted from the mobile device 300 via the exchange 200, and includes a communication processing unit 101a, a transmission unit 101d, and a disconnection unit 101e. Each of these components is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the communication processing unit 101a is a part that performs communication connection processing for the mobile device 300. The acquisition unit 101b is a part that acquires user profile information and the amount of remaining packet data from the service control apparatus 400a. The transmission unit 101d is a part that transmits the total packet data amount calculated by the calculation unit 103 to the service control apparatus 400a at predetermined time intervals or when communication is disconnected by the disconnection unit 101e. The disconnecting unit 101e is a part that disconnects the communication processing in the communication processing unit 101a based on the determination in the determining unit 105.

  The counting unit 102 is a part that counts the amount of packet data in the upstream direction in the communication processing unit 101a.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions of the exchange 200a. The specific configuration is almost the same as that of the exchange 200 in the first embodiment, but the transmission unit 201b (second notification means) is not the gateway exchange 100a but the service control device 400a and the amount of packet data in the downlink direction. Is transmitted at predetermined intervals. Note that the transmission unit 201b is preferably synchronized with the notification of the amount of packet data in accordance with the transmission timing of the transmission unit 101d of the gateway exchange 100a. The synchronization may be achieved by adjusting the time or by sending synchronization signals to each other.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the service control apparatus 400a. The service control apparatus 400a includes a communication control unit 401, a calculation unit 402, a storage unit 403 (storage means), and a determination unit 404.

  The communication control unit 401 is a part that communicates with the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, and includes a reception unit 401a and a disconnection instruction unit 401b (disconnection instruction means).

  The receiving unit 401a is a part that receives information indicating the uplink packet data amount and the downlink packet data amount from the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, respectively.

  The disconnection instruction unit 401 b is a part that instructs the gateway exchange 100 a to disconnect the communication connection of the mobile device 300 based on the result determined by the determination unit 404.

  The arithmetic unit 402 is a part that calculates the total packet data amount by adding up the packet data amount in the uplink direction and the packet data amount in the downlink direction received from each of the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a.

  The storage unit 403 is a part that stores fee management data. This charge management data is the same as that of the first embodiment, and in mobile device 300, the maximum amount of packet data that can be transmitted / received based on the amount of packet data transmitted / received so far and the prepaid fee contracted with the communication carrier It is a part that memorizes.

  The determination unit 404 calculates the packet data amount transmitted / received so far stored in the storage unit 403, the maximum communication packet data amount that can be transmitted / received based on the prepaid fee contracted with the communication carrier, and the calculation unit 402. Based on the accumulated total packet data amount, it is determined whether or not the contracted packet data amount has been exceeded. If it is determined that the packet data amount has been exceeded, the disconnection instruction unit 401b is instructed to disconnect the communication. I do.

  Next, processing of the gateway exchange 100a, the exchange 200a, and the service control device 400a configured as described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the gateway exchange 100a, the exchange 200a, and the service control apparatus 400a.

  When the calling process from the mobile device 300 is performed, the communication connection processing by the gateway switch 100a and the switch 200a is performed (S201, S301). In the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, the identification unit (IMSI stored in the SIM) of the user of the mobile device 300 is acquired by the acquisition unit 101b (S202, S302), and the gateway switch 100a is transmitted to the service control device 400a. Address information is transmitted (S203).

  Then, when the acquisition unit 101b determines that there is a remaining packet data amount and communication is possible based on the charge management data, each of the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a is based on the transmission processing from the mobile device 300. Communication processing is executed (S204, S303). Packet data is transmitted / received to / from the mobile station 300 by this communication processing. In the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, the packet data transmitted by the communication processing unit 101a and the communication processing unit 201a by the counting unit 102 and the counting unit 202. The amount is counted (S205, S304). The gateway exchange 100 a counts the amount of uplink packet data transmitted from the mobile device 300, and the exchange 200 a counts the amount of downlink packet data transmitted to the mobile device 300. The distinction between the uplink direction and the downlink direction can be determined based on the destination information described in the header of the packet data.

  On the other hand, in the gateway exchange 100a, it is determined whether or not a disconnection instruction has been received from an external server such as an ISP or the mobile device 300 (S207). If it is determined that a disconnection instruction has been received, the transmission unit 101d transmits the packet data amount in the uplink direction at that time to the service control apparatus 400a (S208). Then, a cutting process is performed (S209).

  Similarly, in the exchange 200a, it is determined whether or not a disconnection instruction has been received from an external server such as an ISP, the mobile device 300, or the gateway exchange 100a (S306). If it is determined that a disconnection instruction has been received, the transmission unit 201d transmits the packet data amount in the downlink direction at that time to the service control apparatus 400a (S307). Then, a cutting process is performed (S308).

  In the service control apparatus 400a, the remaining packet data amount is calculated based on the uplink packet data amount and the downlink packet data amount transmitted from the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, or stored in a state that can be calculated. Prepare for the next communication.

  Next, the gateway switch 100a and the switch 200a notify the service control device 400a of the amount of packet data transmitted in the predetermined time unit every predetermined time (S206, S305). That is, in the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed is determined by the transmission unit 101d and the transmission unit 201b, and the packet data counted by the counting unit 102 and the counting unit 202 every time the predetermined time elapses. The amount is notified.

  In the service control apparatus 400a, when the reception unit 401a receives a notification of the packet data amount in the uplink and downlink directions from the gateway switch 100a and the switch 200a (S401), the calculation unit 402 adds the packet data amounts. The total amount of packet data transmitted / received by the mobile device 300 per predetermined time is calculated (S402).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the accumulated value of the calculated total packet data amount exceeds the contracted maximum communication packet data amount stored in the storage unit 403. The instruction unit 401b transmits a disconnection instruction to the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a (S404).

  In the gateway exchange 100a and the exchange 200a, upon receiving a disconnection instruction from the service control device 400a, processing for disconnecting the communication connection with the mobile device 300 is performed (S209, S308).

  In this way, in the service control apparatus 400a, it is possible to perform the summation processing of the packet data amount in the uplink direction and the downlink direction, and the accumulated amount of the total packet data amount obtained by the summation processing is the maximum communication contracted by prepaid. It is possible to determine whether or not the amount of packet data has been exceeded and perform an appropriate disconnection process.

Next, a modification of the communication system 10a in the second embodiment will be described. Figure 9 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system 10b is a variation, the communication system 10b is in that there is a gateway exchange 100b ₁ ~100b _3, it differs from the communication system 10a in the above embodiment.

  In general, a plurality of gateway exchanges are provided in order to average the burden of communication processing in each gateway exchange. In a communication system including a plurality of gateway exchanges, when applying to the communication system 10a in the above-described embodiment, the service control device 400a issues a disconnection instruction to which gateway exchange. I don't know if it's good

  Therefore, it is necessary for the gateway exchange executing the communication processing to notify the service control apparatus 400a of identification information (address, etc.) indicating its own at the time of communication connection.

Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a system configuration of a communication system 10b including the gateway exchanges 100b _{1 to} 100b ₃ . Mobile device 300 is, for example, attempts to a communication process utilizing the gateway exchange 100b _1. In this case, the gateway exchange 100b ₁ notifies its own address when acquiring fee management data from the service control device 400a. The service control device 400a, it is possible to know the gateway exchange 100b ₁ of the mobile device 300 is currently available. Therefore, during the cutting process, it is possible to perform cutting instruction to gateway exchange 100b ₁ that has received the notification.

  Next, operational effects of the communication system 10a in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the communication system 10a of the second embodiment, in the gateway exchange 100a, the counting unit 102 counts the uplink packet data amount of the uplink packet data transmitted by the mobile device 300, and the transmitting unit 101d The service controller 400a is notified of the counted uplink data amount. In the exchange 200, the counting unit 202 counts the downlink packet data amount of the downlink packet data transmitted to the mobile device 300, and the transmission unit 201b performs service control on the counted downlink packet data amount. Notify the device 400a. Then, in the service control device 400a, the operation unit 103 calculates the total packet data amount by adding the notified uplink packet data amount and the downlink packet data amount, and the determining unit 105 Based on the data amount and the maximum communication data amount, the gateway exchange 100a or the exchange 200a determines whether or not to disconnect communication with the mobile device 300. The cutting unit 101e instructs to perform a cutting process according to the determination result.

  As a result, the location where the upstream packet data and the downstream packet data are counted is changed, and the upstream packet data is counted at a position relatively far from the mobile device 300. Can grasp the amount of transmitted packet data more accurately by relatively counting at the position on the mobile device 300 side. Then, in the service control apparatus 400a, it is possible to grasp the respective packet data amounts of the uplink packet data and the downlink packet data, it is possible to grasp the total packet data amount in the mobile device 300, and the entire transmission The amount of transmitted packet data can be grasped. Therefore, the cutting process based on the more accurate total packet data amount can be performed.

  Further, in the communication system 10a, the transmission unit 101d of the gateway exchange 100a provides the amount of packet data in the uplink and the amount of packet data in the downlink when the communication between the gateway exchange 100a and the mobile device 300 is disconnected. By transmitting the data to the control device 400a, the service control device 400a can grasp the remaining communicable packet data amount.

  Further, in the communication system 10a, the transmission unit 101d of the gateway exchange 100a receives the measured uplink packet data amount and the predetermined amount of data for each predetermined time while the communication is connected between the gateway exchange 100a and the mobile device 300. By transmitting the downstream packet data amount to the service control device 400a, the total packet data amount during the communication can be notified to the service control device 400a, and the gateway switch 100a or the switch 200a goes down during the communication, Even if the total amount of packet data at the end cannot be notified to the service control apparatus 400a, at least the total amount of packet data in the middle of communication can be recognized by the service control apparatus 400a. Therefore, it is possible to manage the amount of packet data considering the risk when the gateway switch 100a or switch 200a goes down.

Further, the service control device 400a has a remaining packet data amount indicating a data amount that can be transmitted in the future associated with each mobile device, or a transmitted packet data amount of packet data transmitted so far and a maximum communication packet that can be transmitted and received. A storage unit 403 that stores a management table describing the amount of data is provided. Based on this management table, the determination unit 404 determines whether the mobile device 300 can maintain the communication state. If the determination unit 404 determines that the communication state cannot be maintained, the disconnection instruction unit 401b gives an instruction to disconnect the communication connection with the mobile device 300 to the gateway exchange 100a. As a result, when the maximum amount of communication packet data contracted for the first time has been used up, the communication is disconnected even during communication, and therefore appropriate communication connection processing to the mobile device 300 with the prepaid contract is performed. Can do.

<Modification>
The first embodiment and the second embodiment described above mainly use a GPRS communication system. However, the present invention is not limited to such a communication system, and can be appropriately applied to a communication system capable of communicating packet data. For example, it can also be applied to a new communication system such as LTE (Long Term Evolution). It is. At this time, the gateway exchange 100 corresponds to a P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway), and the exchange 200 corresponds to an MME (Mobility Management Entity) or S-GW (Serving Gateway). Moreover, what corresponds to the service control apparatus 400 is HSS (Subscriber Information Management Server: Home Subscriber System). The service control device 400 may be a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Communication system, 10a ... Communication system, 10b ... Communication system, 100 ... Gateway exchange, 100a ... Gateway exchange, 101 ... Communication control part, 101a ... Communication processing part, 101b ... Acquisition part, 101c ... Reception part, 101d ... Transmission , 101e ... cutting unit, 101x ... communication control unit, 102 ... counting unit, 103 ... calculation unit, 104 ... storage unit, 105 ... judgment unit, 200 ... exchange, 200a ... exchange, 201 ... communication control unit, 201a ... communication Processing unit 201b ... Transmitting unit 202 ... Counting unit 203 ... Storage unit 300 ... Mobile device 400 ... Service control device 400a ... Service control device 401 ... Communication control unit 401a ... Receiving unit 401b ... Disconnection instruction , 402... Arithmetic unit, 403... Storage unit, 404.

Claims (13)

In a communication system comprising a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, and an exchange that is arranged under the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control with respect to a mobile device,
The gateway exchange is
First counting means for counting an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device;
Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the uplink data amount counted by the first counting means and the downlink data amount notified from the exchange;
Cutting means for cutting off communication with the mobile device based on the total amount of data calculated by the summing means;
With
The exchange is
Second counting means for counting the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device;
A notification means for notifying the gateway exchange of the amount of data in the downward direction counted by the second counting means;
A communication system comprising:   The gateway exchange further comprises a transmission means for transmitting the total amount of data calculated by the summing means to a management device when communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile station is disconnected. The communication system according to claim 1. It said transmitting means in the gateway exchange, for each predetermined time during which the communication between the gateway switch and the mobile station is connected, and transmits the total data amount calculated by the summing means to said management device The communication system according to claim 2. The gateway exchange is
When a communication connection request is received from the mobile device, the remaining data amount indicating the data amount that can be transmitted in the future associated with the mobile device from the management device or the exchange, or the transmitted data amount of data transmitted so far And obtaining means for obtaining the maximum communication data amount that can be transmitted and received, and determining whether or not communication connection with the mobile device is possible based on the remaining data amount or the transmitted data amount and the maximum communication data amount;
4. The communication system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a communication processing unit that does not perform communication connection with the mobile device when it is determined by the acquisition unit that communication connection is not possible. 5. In a communication system comprising a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, an exchange arranged under the gateway exchange for controlling communication connection to the mobile equipment, and a management device for storing the amount of data transmitted and received by the mobile equipment ,
The gateway exchange is
First counting means for counting an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device;
First notification means for notifying the management device of the amount of data in the upward direction counted by the first counting means;
With
The exchange is
Second counting means for counting the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device;
Second notification means for notifying the management device of the amount of data in the downlink direction counted by the second counting means;
With
The management device
Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the uplink data amount notified by the first notification means and the downlink data amount notified by the second notification means;
Storage means for storing the maximum amount of communication data;
Based on the total amount of data calculated by the summing unit and the maximum amount of communication data stored in the storage unit, the gateway switch or the switch is instructed to disconnect communication with the mobile unit. And a disconnection instruction means.   The first notifying means in the gateway exchange and the second notifying means in the exchange have the data amount in the uplink direction and the data amount in the downlink direction when the communication between the gateway exchange and the mobile device is disconnected. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the communication system is transmitted to a management apparatus.   The first notification means in the gateway exchange and the second notification means in the exchange are the amount of data measured in the upstream direction every predetermined time while communication is connected between the gateway exchange and the mobile equipment. The communication system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a data amount in a downlink direction is transmitted to the management device. The first notification means notifies the management apparatus of destination information indicating an instruction destination for disconnection processing with the mobile device together with an uplink data amount,
The communication system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the disconnection instruction unit in the management apparatus issues a disconnection instruction to a gateway exchange indicated to the destination information. In a communication system comprising a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, and an exchange that is arranged under the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control with respect to a mobile device,
The gateway exchange is
First counting means for counting an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device;
Notification means for notifying the exchange of the amount of data in the upstream direction counted by the first counting means;
With
The exchange is
Second counting means for counting the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device;
Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the downlink data amount counted by the first counting means and the uplink data amount notified from the gateway exchange;
Cutting means for cutting off communication with the mobile device based on the total amount of data calculated by the summing means;
A communication system comprising: In a communication method of a communication system comprising a gateway exchange for connecting to a network, and an exchange that is arranged below the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control for a mobile device,
A first counting step in which the gateway exchange counts an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device; and
A second counting step in which the exchange counts the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device;
A notification step in which the exchange notifies the gateway exchange of the downlink data amount counted in the second counting step;
The gateway exchange sums the uplink data amount counted in the first counting step and the downlink data amount notified from the exchange to calculate the total data amount; and
The gateway exchange disconnects the communication with the mobile device based on the total amount of data calculated in the summing step;
A communication method comprising: A gateway exchange for connecting to a network, an exchange disposed below the gateway exchange and performing communication connection control for the mobile equipment, and a management device for storing the amount of data transmitted and received by the mobile equipment and the maximum amount of communication data In a communication method of a communication system comprising:
A first counting step in which the gateway exchange counts an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device; and
A first notification step in which the gateway exchange notifies the management device of the amount of uplink data counted in the first counting step;
A second counting step in which the exchange counts the downlink data amount of the downlink data transmitted to the mobile device;
A second notification step in which the exchange notifies the management device of the downlink data amount counted in the second counting step;
The management device sums the uplink data amount notified by the first notification step and the downlink data amount notified by the second notification step, and calculates a total data amount; and
A disconnect instruction step for instructing the gateway switch or the switch to disconnect communication with a mobile device based on the total data amount calculated in the summing step and the maximum communication data amount; Communication method. In a gateway exchange that performs communication connection with an exchange that counts the amount of data in the downstream direction for a mobile device, performs communication control of the mobile device, and performs communication connection with a network.
First counting means for counting an uplink data amount of uplink data transmitted by the mobile device;
Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the uplink data amount counted by the first counting means and the downlink data amount notified from the exchange;
Cutting means for cutting off communication with the mobile device based on the total amount of data calculated by the summing means;
A gateway exchange with Communicating with a gateway exchange that counts the amount of data in the upstream direction for connection to the network and an exchange that counts the amount of data in the downstream direction that is placed under the gateway exchange and performs communication connection control for the mobile device In the management device to be connected,
Storage means for storing the maximum communication data amount of the mobile device;
Summing means for calculating the total data amount by summing the data amount in the uplink direction from the mobile device notified from the gateway exchange and the data amount in the downlink direction for the mobile device notified by the exchange;
Based on the total amount of data calculated by the summing unit and the maximum amount of communication data stored in the storage unit, the gateway switch or the switch is instructed to disconnect communication with the mobile unit. A management apparatus comprising: a disconnection instruction unit;

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