JP6524282B2 - Communication capacity management apparatus, communication capacity management method and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication capacity management device, a communication capacity management method, and a computer program.

  Conventionally, the communication capacity of data communication using a portable terminal is limited, for example, on a monthly basis. Then, when the communication capacity given in advance in that month is consumed, it is general that the data communication can not be used in that month, or the communication speed can be suppressed to a low speed although it can be used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that pre-pays communication charges, charges according to the use of the communication capacity, and enables use of the communication capacity corresponding to the prepaid charge. Further, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of mobile terminals are grouped, and communication capacity (degree of connection) is set for the group, for example, members in the department of a company share communication capacity and charge There is also disclosure about the technology to be managed in each department.

  Also, in recent years, many minors own portable terminals such as smartphones, and minors can access harmful websites and pay high communication costs to overuse data communication services. There are also opinions that are viewed as problems. On the other hand, there is provided a mechanism (eg, parental lock) for restricting use of specific functions and applications.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-504299 Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-18333

  By the way, although there are individual differences in the frequency of use of communication capacity, for example, even within a family, parents do not communicate so much, leaving monthly communication capacity to be granted regularly, but children are actively sending e-mails and messages. It may happen that the periodic grant communication capacity is used up using the Internet or the like. In such a case, for example, it is convenient if it is possible to transfer part of the communication capacity assigned to the wireless communication line contracted by the parent to the wireless communication line contracted under the child name. However, even if the parent can transfer the communication capacity to the child, if the child can use the communication capacity without restriction, the communication capacity which has been transferred immediately may be used up, or the communication capacity may be transferred. As a result, the child is further urged to use the data communication service, resulting in a result contrary to the intention of the parent who transferred the communication capacity.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and, for example, when the communication capacity assigned to a wireless communication line contracted by a certain user is transferred to a wireless communication line contracted by another user, It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication capacity management apparatus, a communication capacity management method, and a computer program capable of controlling use of communication capacity for a wireless communication line of a transfer destination.

(1) One aspect of the present invention is that, regarding a first wireless communication line and a second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines having a limited communication capacity, a desired one of remaining capacity of communication capacity in the first wireless communication line Communication capacity transfer unit for transferring communication capacity to the second wireless communication line, and remaining capacity of communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line and other wireless communication included in the remaining capacity A remaining capacity management unit for managing the communication capacity transferred from the line, wherein the remaining capacity management unit is a communication capacity with a fixed period of time, which is a communication capacity with an expiration date given by a predetermined amount every predetermined period The remaining capacity related to the additional purchased communication capacity, which is the additionally purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and the communication capacity transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line Before And differentiated management and remaining capacity, and the remaining capacity according to the transferred communication capacity is updated to 0 every time the month alternative, a communication capacity management device.

(2) In one aspect of the present invention, in the communication capacity management apparatus according to (1), the remaining capacity related to the transferred communication capacity is related to the remaining capacity related to the periodic grant communication capacity in the first wireless communication line. It is a communication capacity transferred from the capacity to the second wireless communication line.

(3) In one aspect of the present invention, in the communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of the above (1) or (2), the communication capacity transfer unit corresponds to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line. Transferring the communication capacity from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line when the same transfer group indicating that different wireless communication lines can mutually transfer the communication capacity is set .

(4) In one aspect of the present invention, in the communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of the above (2) or (3), the remaining capacity management unit is configured to transmit the transferred communication capacity instead of every month. When the transfer source expires, the remaining capacity of the transferred communication capacity is updated to zero.

(5) One aspect of the present invention relates to the communication capacity of the first wireless communication line with respect to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, wherein the communication capacity management device is a wireless communication line whose communication capacity is limited. A communication capacity transfer step of transferring a desired communication capacity from the remaining capacity to the second wireless communication line, and the remaining capacity and remaining capacity of the communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line The remaining capacity management step of managing the communication capacity transferred from the other wireless communication line included in the above, and the remaining capacity management step includes the use time limit given by a predetermined amount every predetermined period. From the remaining capacity related to the periodic grant communication capacity which is the communication capacity, the remaining capacity according to the additional purchase communication capacity which is the additionally purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and the first wireless communication line from the first wireless communication line In the communication capacity management method, the remaining capacity related to the communication capacity transferred to the wireless communication line is separately managed, and the remaining capacity related to the transferred communication capacity is updated to 0 each time the month changes. is there.

(6) One aspect of the present invention relates to communication of the computer of the communication capacity management device with the first wireless communication line, the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines having communication capacity limitations. Means for transferring a desired communication capacity from the remaining capacity of the capacity to the second wireless communication line, including in the remaining capacity of the communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line and the remaining capacity thereof Means for managing the communication capacity transferred from the other wireless communication line, and the means for managing the communication capacity is the communication capacity with the expiration date given by a predetermined amount for each predetermined period. The remaining capacity related to a given periodic communication capacity and the remaining capacity related to an additional purchased communication capacity, which is the additionally purchased communication capacity with expiration date, and the second wireless communication from the first wireless communication line And distinguish between the remaining capacity according to the communication capacity which has been transferred to the line, the managing, updating the remaining capacity according to the transferred communication capacity, to 0 every time the month alternative, a computer program.

  According to the present invention, when the transfer of the communication capacity is performed between the wireless communication lines whose communication capacity is limited, it is possible to add a limit to the communication capacity allocated to the transferred wireless communication line.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication capacity management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the example of composition of the hardware which realizes communication capacity management device 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system using the communication capacity management apparatus 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table used for management of the communication capacity which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table used for determination of the decision | availability of transfer of the communication capacity which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication restriction condition data table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication amount log | history log data table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart of restriction processing of use of the communication capacity concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the flowchart of the restriction processing of retransfer of communication capacity according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the screen used for confiscation of the communication capacity which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication capacity management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the communication capacity management device 1 has a remaining capacity management unit 11, a determination unit 12, a communication capacity transfer unit 13, a transfer request reception unit 14, a remaining capacity use control unit 15, a management data storage unit 16, and a communication unit 17. Equipped with

  The remaining capacity management unit 11 manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity allocated to each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines whose communication capacity is limited. The remaining capacity management unit 11 manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity separately to the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity, and further, for each of the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity, another wireless communication line Manage the communication capacity transferred from. The regularly assigned communication capacity is a communication capacity with a limited use period given by a predetermined amount every predetermined period. Further, the additional purchase communication capacity is the additionally purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and is the communication capacity to be added by the user purchasing when the communication capacity is insufficient only with the periodic grant communication capacity. . Further, transfer means to replace part or all of the communication capacity available in the first wireless communication line as the communication capacity available in the second wireless communication line. The management stores the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity that can be used in the wireless communication line for each wireless communication line, and the periodic grant communication capacity according to the use of the communication capacity in the wireless communication line Alternatively, it means that the communication capacity is subtracted from the additionally purchased communication capacity by the amount used. In addition, with regard to the periodic grant communication capacity, when the communication capacity is granted, the periodic grant communication capacity is added and stored for the grant, and the additional purchase communication capacity is purchased when the communication capacity is purchased It means adding and storing only additional purchase communication capacity. Also, with management, when the communication capacity is transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line, the transfer amount is subtracted from the communication capacity stored in association with the first wireless communication line (transfer source) Storing the calculated value, and storing a value obtained by adding the transferred amount to the communication capacity stored in association with the second wireless communication line (transfer destination).

The determination unit 12 determines whether transfer of the communication capacity is possible from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line.
The communication capacity transfer unit 13 transfers the desired communication capacity from the remaining capacity of the communication capacity of the wireless communication line allocated to the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line based on the determination of the determination unit 12 Do.
When transferring the communication capacity from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line, the transfer request receiving unit 14 receives the request for the transfer.

The remaining capacity use control unit 15 controls the use of the communication capacity assigned to each of the wireless communication lines. In particular, when the communication capacity is transferred from another wireless communication line for a certain wireless communication line, the use of the communication capacity allocated to the wireless communication line to which the communication capacity has been transferred is restricted.
The management data storage unit 16 stores the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for each wireless communication line, the record to which the transfer has been performed, and the like.
The communication unit 17 communicates with a user contract information management device 114, a settlement device 116, a communication control device 112, and the like described later.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of hardware that implements the communication capacity management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the communication capacity management device 1 includes a CPU unit 21, a communication unit 17, and a storage unit 22. These units are configured to exchange data. The CPU unit 21 controls the communication capacity management device 1. This control function is realized by the CPU unit 21 executing a computer program. The communication unit 17 communicates with other devices. The storage unit 22 stores computer programs executed by the CPU unit 21 and various data. The storage unit 22 stores a communication capacity management program 24.

  Each function of the remaining capacity management unit 11, the determination unit 12, the communication capacity transfer unit 13, the transfer request reception unit 14, and the remaining capacity use control unit 15 shown in FIG. This is realized by executing the communication capacity management program 24 stored in. Also, the management data storage unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the storage unit 22 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system using the communication capacity management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the terminal 102 is connected to the base station 104 by a wireless communication line 106. The wireless communication line 106 has a limited communication capacity. User data transmitted from the terminal 102 to the base station 104 using the wireless communication link 106 is transferred from the base station 104 to the gateway 108. The gateway 108 outputs the user data of the terminal 102 transferred from the base station 104 to the Internet 110 if the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is permitted. Similarly, gateway 108 transfers user data addressed to terminal 102 input from Internet 110 to terminal 102 via base station 104 if communication of terminal 102 using wireless communication line 106 is permitted. .

  If within the limitation of the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106, the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is permitted. On the other hand, when the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 is not limited, the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is not permitted. Or, even if communication is permitted, the communication speed is reduced. Thus, the terminal 102 can communicate with another communication device connected to the Internet 110 using the wireless communication line 106 within the limitation of the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106. it can. On the other hand, when the terminal 102 is out of the limitation of the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106, the terminal 102 communicates with another communication device connected to the Internet 110 using the wireless communication line 106. I can not Or, even if communication is possible, the communication speed is reduced.

  The communication control device 112 instructs the gateway 108 whether or not to permit the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 (non-permission), or instructs the communication speed. The permission or non-permission of the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 and the communication speed are based on the communication permission information of the wireless communication line 106 from the communication capacity management device 1. Further, the communication control apparatus 112 acquires, from the gateway 108, transfer data amount information indicating the transfer amount of user data transferred by the gateway 108 by the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106. The transfer data amount information is transmitted from the communication control device 112 to the communication capacity management device 1.

  The communication capacity management device 1 updates the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for the wireless communication line 106 based on the transfer data amount information received from the communication control device 112. Further, the communication capacity management device 1 transmits communication permission information of the wireless communication line 106 to the communication control device 112 based on the remaining amount of communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106. The communication permission information is information on permission or non-permission of communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 or restriction of communication speed.

  The user contract information management device 114 manages information (user contract information) of the user who has contracted the wireless communication line 106. The user contract information includes information indicating a user identifier (user ID), an identification number (line number) of the wireless communication line 106, and contents of a contract for communication capacity and the like. The communication capacity management device 1 inquires of the user contract information management device 114 about user contract information as necessary.

  The settlement apparatus 116 performs settlement processing of payment by the user. The communication capacity management device 1 inquires of the payment device 116 about the payment status of payment by the user, as necessary.

  The terminal 102 can access the communication capacity management device 1 by communication. Communication between the terminal 102 and the communication capacity management device 1 may be communication via the wireless communication line 106, or communication not via the wireless communication line 106. The communication capacity management device 1 performs the corresponding processing in response to the request from the terminal 102.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication capacity available to the user for data communication is allocated to each of the wireless communication lines 106 contracted by the user. The types of communication capacity include the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity described above. As an example, in the present embodiment, 7 GB of monthly grant communication capacity is granted monthly to the wireless communication line 106 that has made a contract to grant the communication capacity on a regular basis, and the expiration date is one month. Further, the additional purchase communication capacity can be purchased in units of 500 MB or 1 GB, and the expiration date is assumed to be 62 days from the date of purchase. Further, among these two types of communication capacity, it is assumed that it is decided to be preferentially used from the additional purchase communication capacity. The user can subscribe to and use a plurality of wireless communication lines 106.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data table used to manage communication capacity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The data table illustrated in FIG. 4 is an example of a table used by the remaining capacity management unit 11 to manage the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for each wireless communication line. In the first line of the data table illustrated in FIG. 4, the user “001” subscribes to and uses the wireless communication line “090-1234-5678”, and the periodic assigned communication capacity allocated to the wireless communication line The remaining capacity of is 7 GB ("total"), and the remaining capacity of the additionally purchased communication capacity is 500 MB ("total"). Moreover, the communication capacity transferred from the other wireless communication line is 0 GB ("transferable part") among the 7 GB of regularly granted communication capacity, and is transferred from the other wireless communication line among the 500 MB of additional purchased communication capacity. It shows that the communication capacity is 200 MB ("transferred part"). Similarly, in the second row, the user "001" subscribes to and uses the second wireless communication line "080-1234-5678", and the periodic assigned communication capacity allocated to this wireless communication line is 5 GB. Among them, 1GB is transferred, 200MB of additional purchased communication capacity, which indicates that 0MB is transferred. In the third line, the user "002" subscribes to and uses the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679", and the remaining capacity of the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity allocated to the wireless communication line The figures indicate that each is 1 GB, and the transfer amount for both is 0 GB.

  For example, when the remaining capacity management unit 11 receives information from the communication control device 112 that data communication of 100 MB has been performed for the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679", it refers to the data table to perform wireless communication. The remaining capacity of the additional purchased communication capacity of the line "090-1234-5679" is read out, and the value of the additional purchased communication capacity field is overwritten and updated with a value (0.9 GB) obtained by subtracting 100 MB from the read 1 GB. . The value of the additional purchase communication capacity is updated because the additional purchase communication capacity is preferentially used as described above. Also, for example, when the next month is reached, the remaining capacity management unit 11 acquires contract information of the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679" from the user contract information management device 114, and for example, this wireless communication line is periodically assigned Assuming that the contract is to provide a communication capacity, the value 1 GB of the regularly assigned communication capacity is overwritten and updated with 7 GB of the next month based on the contract.

  In addition, when transfer of communication capacity is performed from one communication line to another communication line, the remaining capacity management unit 11 acquires information of the transferred communication capacity from the communication capacity transfer unit 13, and from the other communication line Manage the total value of transferred communication capacity. For example, when the communication capacity of 100 MB is transferred from another communication line for the periodically assigned communication capacity of the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679", the communication capacity transfer unit 13 selects the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679". The value of 1GB which is the value of "overall" of the periodic grant communication capacity of is read, and it is overwritten with the value (1.1GB) which added 100MB transferred to the read 1GB, and the transferred capacity (100MB) is used for remaining capacity management Output to section 11. The remaining capacity management unit 11 reads 0 GB, which is the value of “transferred portion” of the regularly allocated communication capacity from the data table of FIG. 4, and adds 100 MB transferred to 0 GB from which this value was read (0.1 GB) Overwrite and update. The management data storage unit 16 stores the data table illustrated in FIG. 4, and the remaining capacity management unit 11 uses the data table to periodically communicate and additionally purchase communication capacity for each wireless communication line. Manage the remaining capacity and how much of the remaining capacity is the transferred communication capacity.

Next, an example of which transfer processing of the communication capacity is possible when the conditions are satisfied will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data table used to determine whether transfer of communication capacity is possible according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The “transfer service contract” column in FIG. 5 indicates whether or not a contract for transfer service of communication capacity is made for each wireless communication line. In the present embodiment, in order to transfer the communication capacity, it is assumed that the transfer source wireless communication line and the transfer destination wireless communication line have made this contract. “Family ID” is attribute information indicating a family to which a user who subscribes to a certain wireless communication line belongs. For example, when the user "001" and the user "002" are parent-child, the same value is set to this family ID. The “billing group ID” is an ID indicating a unit for paying a charge such as a communication charge for the wireless communication line. For example, in a certain family, when the father pays, the same value is set to the billing group ID for the wireless communication line contracted by the family. The “transfer group ID” is attribute information indicating a transfer group to which a user who subscribes to a certain wireless communication line belongs. The transfer group is a group in which the wireless communication lines contracted by the user can transfer the communication capacity to each other. For example, if one group of friends forms a group, and the remaining capacity of the communication capacity is insufficient, the group is registered as one transfer group when it is desired to transfer the communication capacity between the friends, members of the group The same value is set to the transfer group ID of the wireless communication line to which the contract is made, and transfer of the communication capacity becomes possible between members of the group.

The transferability determination data table is stored, for example, in a storage unit of the user contract information management device 114. The determination unit 12 of the communication capacity management device 1 acquires, from the user contract information management device 114, the information set in the transferability determination data table for the transfer source wireless communication line and the transfer destination wireless communication line, and is transferable? It judges whether or not. For example, when the value of “transfer service contract” of any of the transfer source and transfer destination wireless communication lines is “absent”, the determination unit 12 determines that transfer processing is not possible. If the family ID, the billing group ID, and the transfer group ID of the transfer source and transfer destination wireless communication lines are not the same, the determination unit 12 determines that transfer processing is not possible. The determination based on the family ID, the billing group ID, and the transfer group ID may be performed based on only one of these, and when at least one of these IDs has the same value, the determination unit 12 It may be determined that the transfer of communication capacity between the transfer source wireless communication line and the transfer destination wireless communication line is possible.
In addition to the family ID, billing group ID, and transfer group ID, "transfer flag" indicating whether transfer can be performed to another wireless communication line in the transfer availability determination data table, other wireless communication An item of “reception flag” indicating whether transfer from the line can be received may be provided, and the user may set these flags for each user or for each wireless communication line. For example, set "Prohibit" in "Transfer flag" and "Reception flag" for children in middle school students in the same family, set "Prohibit" in "Transfer flag" for children of university students, and set "Reception flag""Allow" can be set. Then, for example, when transferring the communication capacity from the parent to the child of the university student, in addition to the judgment of the family ID, etc., the “reception flag” of the wireless communication line used by the university student is “permitted”. It is determined that transfer is possible based on the In addition, when transferring communication capacity from a parent to a child of junior high school student, determination unit 12 is based on the fact that the “reception flag” of the wireless communication line used by junior high school student is “prohibited” in addition to the determination of family ID etc. , It is determined that transfer is impossible. Also, for example, when attempting to transfer communication capacity between the university student and the junior high student, in addition to the judgment of the family ID etc., the judgment unit 12 prohibits the “assignment flag” of the wireless communication line used by the university student or the junior high student It is determined that transfer is impossible based on the fact that The “assignment flag” and the “receipt flag” can be used in combination with any of the family ID, the billing group ID, and the transfer group ID. In this way, control of transferability can be performed in units finer than units of a family, a billing group, and a transfer group.

When the determination unit 12 determines that transfer is possible, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 performs transfer processing. Specifically, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 performs communication from any of the transfer source and transfer destination wireless communication lines received by the transfer request reception unit 14, the transfer capacity of the transfer, the periodic grant communication capacity, and the additional purchase communication capacity. Acquire information such as whether to transfer the capacity. Then, based on the acquired information, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 transfers from the user, of the periodically added communication capacity and the additional purchased communication capacity of the record of the wireless communication line of the transfer source of the data table illustrated in FIG. Subtract the transferred communication capacity from the "overall" of the originally designated one. Next, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 adds the communication capacity to be transferred to the remaining capacity of the record of the transfer destination wireless communication line. At this time, if the transfer source transfers from the periodic grant communication capacity, add the communication capacity to be transferred to “overall” of the remaining capacity of the regular grant communication capacity even at the transfer destination, and transfer from the additional purchase communication capacity. The communication capacity to be transferred to the "overall" of the remaining capacity of the additional purchased communication capacity is also added earlier.
Further, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 outputs the wireless communication line of the transfer destination and the communication capacity to be transferred to the remaining capacity management unit 11. As described above, the remaining capacity management unit 11 adds, to the transfer destination wireless communication line, the communication capacity to be transferred to the “transferable part” of the communication capacity related to the transfer among the periodic grant communication capacity or the additional purchase communication capacity.
In this example, the additional purchase communication capacity of the transfer source is also transferred to the additional purchase communication capacity even at the transfer destination, but the transferred communication capacity is other than the periodic grant communication capacity and the additional purchase communication capacity at the transfer destination The communication capacity may be separately managed. Further, when transferring from the periodic grant communication capacity, the regular grant communication capacity of the transfer source may be transferred to the additional purchase communication capacity of the transfer destination.

  The remaining capacity management unit 11 manages, for example, the following about the expiration date of the transferred communication capacity. The value of “transferred portion” of the regularly allocated communication capacity is updated to 0 every month. In addition, the remaining capacity management unit 11 determines the communication capacity transferred at each transfer from the value of “transfer amount” of the additional purchased communication capacity according to the expiration date of the additional purchase communication capacity at the time of the transfer. Process to reduce. For example, it is assumed that transfer of 100 MB is performed from the additional purchase communication capacity of the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line at a certain time. It is assumed that the purchase date of the last additional purchased communication capacity in the first wireless communication line at the time of the transfer is “Y1 Y M1 D1”. Then, from the purchase history log of the additional purchase communication capacity of the first wireless communication line recorded in the management data storage unit 16 and the transfer history log, the remaining capacity management unit 11 makes the last purchase at the time of the transfer. Detected that the time is "Y1 Y M 1 D 1" and 62 days after "Y 1 M 1 D 1" "Additional purchased communication capacity of transfer record" showing the remaining capacity of the second wireless communication line Subtract 100 MB from the value of. Note that it is assumed that the processing unit that performs additional purchase processing of the communication capacity has written in the management data storage unit 16 the history (purchase history log) that the user additionally purchased the communication capacity. Also, it is assumed that the transfer capacity transfer unit 13 writes the transfer process history (transfer history log) in the management data storage unit 16 for each transfer process. The transfer history log includes information such as transfer date and time, transfer source and transfer destination wireless communication lines, transferred transfer capacity, periodic additional transfer capacity and additional purchased transfer capacity, which transfer capacity was transferred from, etc. There is. In this example, although the last purchase time is used as the start date of the expiration date of the additional purchase communication capacity, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, 62 days from the use start date may be the expiration date, with the use start date of the additional purchase communication capacity as a start date. In addition, the additional purchase of the communication capacity extends not only the last purchased communication capacity but also the expiration date of the additional purchased communication capacity purchased before that, and the last purchase time or start of use for the entire additional purchased communication capacity It is also possible to give a 62-day expiration date starting from the day.

  Thus, for example, by transferring the communication capacity from the user whose communication capacity is surplus in the family to the user whose remaining capacity of the communication capacity is reduced, the remaining communication capacity can be effectively used, which is convenient. improves. On the other hand, in recent years, many minors own mobile terminals and freely use data communication services such as the Internet. On the other hand, parents of minors are worried about spending high communication charges, for example, or using the Internet until late at night. Under such circumstances, if the parent transfers the remaining communication capacity of the wireless communication line to his or her minor child, the minor will be encouraged to use the data communication service. So, this embodiment limits the use of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity allocated to the second wireless communication line when the communication capacity is transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line. I will provide a.

[Use limit of communication capacity]
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the communication restriction condition data table according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The first line of this table indicates that the wireless communication line "090-1234-5678" is set to perform communication restriction in "HH: mm: ss1" to "HH: mm: ss2". It shows. With communication control, for example, during this time zone, control such that notification of disaster information is not possible except for data communication, or data communication is possible, but the communication speed is reduced to a predetermined speed, etc. Point to The second line indicates that the setting for limiting the communication capacity per day to "100 MB" is performed for the wireless communication line "080-1234-5678". In the case of this communication restriction, for example, control is performed such that data communication can not be performed if the data transfer amount per day exceeds 100 MB, or control such as reduction in communication speed is performed. The third line performs communication restriction on “HH: mm: ss3” to “HH: mm: ss 4” for the wireless communication line “090-1234-5679”, and further, the communication capacity per day is It shows that the setting to limit to 100MB is done. The communication restriction condition data table stores values set by the transfer source user on the communication restriction condition setting screen (not shown).

In the present embodiment, communication restriction is performed when the communication restriction condition is satisfied and there is a transferred communication capacity for the wireless communication line. The implementation of the communication restriction means that the transferred capacity is transferred to the remaining capacity of the wireless communication line. For example, in the case of the restriction by the communication capacity per day, the remaining capacity use control unit 15 The usage record of the communication capacity for each predetermined time is managed for each predetermined time, and based on the usage record of the communication capacity and the limit value of the communication capacity per day illustrated in FIG. Sending instruction information (communication permission information) for restricting Further, in the case of limitation by time zone, the remaining capacity use control unit 15 acquires information of “limit start time” set in the data table of FIG. 5 and communicates via the communication unit 17 when the limit start time is reached. Communication permission information on the wireless communication line to be controlled is transmitted to the control device 112. The communication permission information includes the identification number of the wireless communication line that performs communication restriction, and information indicating the content of the communication restriction. When the communication control device 112 receives the communication permission information, the communication control device 112 performs control of restricting the communication of the instructed line by a known method.
In addition to the restriction based on the time zone and the communication capacity per day, the communication restriction may be performed when the actual use time of the data communication per day becomes a predetermined time or more.
Moreover, as the communication restriction performed by the communication control apparatus 112, in addition to the prohibition of data communication and the decrease in communication speed, it is also possible to prohibit the access to a specific site.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a communication amount history log data table according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The management data storage unit 16 stores the communication amount history log data table. The remaining capacity usage control unit 15 writes the total value of the communication capacity used by the wireless communication line received from the communication control device 112 in the communication amount history log data table every predetermined time. When the remaining capacity use control unit 15 performs the usage restriction of the communication capacity based on the communication capacity per day, the communication capacity for transmitting each wireless communication line based on the communication amount history log data table illustrated in FIG. 6 Understand

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart of a process of limiting use of communication capacity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As a premise, as described above, the user performs data communication using the owned terminal 102, and the communication capacity used by the data communication is transmitted from the communication control apparatus 112 to the communication capacity management apparatus 1 for communication In the capacity management device 1, the remaining capacity management unit 11 manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity and the transferred communication capacity included in the transfer capacity for each wireless communication line, and the remaining capacity use control unit 15 performs wireless communication for a predetermined time. It is assumed that the communication capacity used for each line is recorded in the communication amount history log data table.

  First, the remaining capacity usage control unit 15 reads the communication restriction condition data table illustrated in FIG. 6 to acquire the conditions for starting the communication restriction set for each wireless communication line, and determines whether the communication restriction condition is satisfied. Is determined (step S1). For example, the remaining capacity use control unit 15 determines that the restriction condition is satisfied in the case where the “restriction start time” has arrived for a wireless communication line in which the condition of communication restriction by time zone is set. Also, for a wireless communication line for which the condition for communication restriction based on the communication capacity per day is set, the communication capacity that the communication capacity used on that day must start restriction based on the data table illustrated in FIG. 7 It is determined that the restriction condition is satisfied. When the restriction condition is not satisfied (step S1; No), this processing flow ends for the wireless communication line. If the communication restriction condition is satisfied (step S1; Yes), the remaining capacity use control unit 15 determines whether the communication capacity transferred from another wireless communication line exists for the remaining capacity of each wireless communication line satisfying the communication restriction condition It is determined whether or not it is (step S2). Specifically, the remaining capacity usage control unit 15 inquires the remaining capacity management unit 11 about the transferred communication capacity among the remaining capacities of the respective wireless communication lines. The remaining capacity management unit 11 notifies the remaining capacity use control unit 15 of the presence or absence of the transferred communication capacity with reference to the data table illustrated in FIG. 4. When there is no transferred communication capacity (step S2; No), this processing flow ends for the wireless communication line. When there is a transferred communication capacity (step S2; Yes), the remaining capacity use control unit 15 communicates permission information including information on communication availability and communication speed limitation for a wireless communication line having a communication capacity transferred from another. Are read from the management data storage unit 16, and the identification number of the wireless communication line and the communication permission information are transmitted to the communication control apparatus 112 via the communication unit 17. The communication control device 112 controls the acquired wireless communication line based on the communication permission information.

  In the determination of step S2, the following determination may be made. That is, the remaining capacity usage control unit 15 determines whether or not the remaining capacity of each wireless communication line is equal to or less than the total of the communication capacities transferred from other wireless communication lines (step S2). Specifically, the remaining capacity use control unit 15 inquires of the remaining capacity management unit 11 about the remaining capacity of each wireless communication line and the transferred communication capacity. The remaining capacity management unit 11 refers to the data table illustrated in FIG. 4 to control the remaining capacity (“overall”) of each wireless communication line and the transferred communication capacity (“transferred portion”) as a remaining capacity use control unit. Output to 15. The remaining capacity usage control unit 15 compares the acquired remaining capacity with the transferred communication capacity, and executes the process of step S3 if the transferred communication capacity is equal to or more than the remaining capacity. If the transferred communication capacity is less than the remaining capacity, this processing flow ends.

  In this way, when the communication capacity assigned to the wireless communication line to which the user is subscribed is transferred to another wireless communication line, by limiting the communication time zone and the available communication capacity per day It is possible to prevent the excessive use of the communication capacity of the user who uses the wireless communication line of the transfer destination.

[Retransfer limit of communication capacity]
Next, restrictions on retransfer of communication capacity will be described. The transfer of communication capacity means, for example, transfer of the communication capacity transferred from father A to child A in one family A to child B of another family B who is a friend. If retransfer is permitted, for example, even if Family B does not permit transfer of communication capacity according to the education policy etc., Child B and Child B contract by forming the same transfer group with Child A and Child B. It is possible to transfer the communication capacity to the wireless communication line. In addition, when transfer of communication capacity is made unlimited, one user who consumes a large amount of communication capacity indirectly transfers the communication capacity allocated to the communication line to which a large number of other users are contracted. It will be possible to secure. As a result, an imbalance with other users may arise, and for the telecommunications service business entity, originally, the user may purchase additional communication capacity, or a higher-priced communication service in which more communication capacity may be used. There are also problems such as not obtaining the income that can be obtained by contracting a contract. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a function to limit retransfer of communication capacity is provided.

FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart of a restriction process of retransfer of communication capacity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
First, the transfer request receiving unit 14 receives a transfer request by the transfer source user (step S11). Specifically, on the transfer processing instruction screen (not shown), the transfer source user inputs information such as transfer source and transfer destination wireless communication lines, communication capacity to be transferred, etc., and performs transfer instruction operation. Then, the transfer request receiving unit 14 writes and stores the input information in the management data storage unit 16 and instructs the communication capacity transfer unit 13 to execute the transfer processing.
Also, the acceptance of the transfer request may be as follows. From the transfer request input screen (not shown), the transfer destination user identifies the transfer source user or transfer source wireless communication line identification number, the communication capacity desired for transfer, the transfer destination wireless communication line identification number, purpose of use, transfer Register the deadline for answering whether or not to accept the request. Based on the transfer request, the transfer request receiving unit 14 sends, by e-mail or the like, a guide to a website that inputs the request for transfer and whether to accept the transfer, etc. to the user specified as the transfer source. Do. Then, when the user designated as the transfer source performs an operation such as pressing the consent button provided on the website provided within the response time limit, the transfer request accepting unit 14 indicates that the consent has been obtained. Information is acquired, the transfer request registered by the transfer destination user is accepted, and the communication capacity transfer unit 13 is instructed to execute transfer processing.

  Next, the communication capacity transfer unit 13 requests the determination unit 12 to determine whether transfer is possible. First, the determination unit 12 determines whether transfer processing is possible based on contract information and attribute information (step S12). Specifically, the determination unit 12 reads the transfer request information received by the transfer request receiving unit 14 from the management data storage unit 16 and, for example, based on the determination criteria described in FIG. Whether transfer processing is possible or not is determined based on the family ID. If it is determined that transfer is not possible (step S12; No), the determination unit 12 outputs the determination result to the communication capacity transfer unit 13. The communication capacity transfer unit 13 cancels the transfer process (step S15). If it is determined that transfer is possible (step S12; Yes), the determination unit 12 determines whether there is a transferred communication capacity for the transfer source wireless communication line (step S13). Specifically, the determination unit 12 inquires the remaining capacity management unit 11 about the presence or absence of the transferred communication capacity for the transfer source wireless communication line. The remaining capacity management unit 11 notifies the determination unit 12 of the presence or absence of the transferred communication capacity with reference to the data table illustrated in FIG. 4. If there is a transferred communication capacity (step S13; Yes), the determination unit 12 determines that transfer is not possible, and outputs the determination result to the communication capacity transfer unit 13. The communication capacity transfer unit 13 cancels the transfer process (step S15). When there is no transferred communication capacity (step S13; No), the determination unit 12 determines that transfer is possible, and outputs the determination result to the communication capacity transfer unit 13. The communication capacity transfer unit 13 executes transfer processing (step S14).

This prevents retransfer of the transferred communication capacity, and prevents the transfer of the communication capacity to an unintended third party or concentration of the transferred communication capacity to a certain wireless communication line.
Although transfer of the transferred communication capacity to a third party is prohibited, transfer (return) to the transfer source communication line may be permitted. In that case, for example, in step S13, the determination unit 12 counts transfer performance of communication capacity between the transfer source wireless communication line and the transfer destination wireless communication line from the transfer history log, and from the transfer destination wireless communication line It is determined that transfer is possible if the communication capacity transferred to the transfer source wireless communication line before the expiration date exceeds the communication capacity currently being transferred.

[Forfeit of communication capacity]
Next, the confiscation of communication capacity will be described. The confiscation of communication capacity means, for example, that after the parent transfers the communication capacity to the child, the child continues to receive requests from the child regarding the transfer of the communication capacity, which adversely affects the study of the school. If you are concerned, etc., it is a function that can take up the communication capacity you transferred.
Usually, the transfer process is executed by the transfer source user as intended, but the confiscation process of the communication capacity is performed regardless of the transfer source user's intention.

FIG. 10 is an example of a screen used for confiscation of communication capacity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the area of reference numeral 25, the transfer process before the expiration date is displayed in the history of transfer processes performed from a wireless communication line contracted by a certain user to another wireless communication line. This screen is based on the transfer history log recorded by the communication capacity transfer unit 13. In this example, transfer processing is performed three times from the wireless communication line "090-1234-5678" to the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679". When the user who subscribes to the wireless communication line "090-1234-5678" recovers the communication capacity transferred to the wireless communication line "090-1234-5679", it is on the left end of the transfer history information corresponding to the communication capacity to be confiscated. Check and select. Then, when the user depresses the confiscation button 26, the transfer request receiving unit 14 transfers the transfer source wireless communication line, transfer destination wireless communication line, and communication capacity type of the row to which the check mark is attached (periodically assigned communication capacity or additional purchase communication Capacity), get information of transferred communication capacity. The transfer request reception unit 14 designates the acquired transfer destination wireless communication line as the transfer source, designates the acquired transfer source wireless communication line as the transfer destination, designates the acquired communication capacity type as the communication capacity type, and acquires it. The transferred transfer capacity is designated as the transfer capacity to transfer, and the transfer capacity transfer unit 13 is instructed to transfer processing. The communication capacity transfer unit 13 performs transfer processing based on the instruction.

As a result, regardless of the intention of the transfer destination user, the transferred user can prevent the communication capacity of the transfer destination user from being used up by taking up the transferred communication capacity.
When the confiscation button 26 is pressed, the transfer request reception unit 14 instructs the remaining capacity management unit 11 to subtract the communication capacity for the transfer instead of picking up the transferred communication capacity, and the remaining capacity management unit 11 may perform processing for subtracting the transferred communication capacity of the line from the remaining capacity of the transfer destination wireless communication line of the line selected by the user based on the instruction.

[Elimination of communication capacity]
Next, the disappearance of the communication capacity will be described. As described above, the remaining capacity management unit 11 manages the transferred communication capacity based on the expiration date according to the expiration date of the communication capacity at the transfer source. However, the remaining capacity management unit 11 may set a shorter period starting from the time of transfer as the expiration date. That is, the remaining capacity management unit 11 subtracts the communication capacity by the transfer from the remaining capacity when a predetermined period elapses after the transfer of the communication capacity is performed for the remaining capacity of a certain wireless communication line. For example, if the predetermined period is 10 days, the remaining capacity management unit 11 sets the transferred communication capacity to 0 when 10 days have passed after the transfer of the communication capacity. More specifically, the remaining capacity management unit 11 acquires the date and time when a wireless communication line was transferred and the transferred communication capacity from the transfer history log, and ten days have passed since the date and time when the transfer was received. And subtracting the transferred communication capacity from the remaining capacity of the wireless communication line. At this time, if the transfer of the periodic additional communication capacity has been transferred, the transfer amount is subtracted from the remaining capacity of the additional purchase communication capacity from the remaining capacity of the additional purchase communication capacity. The data table illustrated in FIG. 4 is updated with the value of. Note that the number of days from the transfer to the expiration date may be determined in advance by the communication service provider, or the transfer source user may arbitrarily set the setting screen (not shown).

  As a result, it is possible to limit the expiration date of the transferred communication capacity, and it is possible to prevent the overuse of the communication capacity of the transfer destination user.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are also included.

A computer program for realizing the functions of the communication capacity management device 1 described above is recorded in a computer readable recording medium, and the computer system reads the program recorded in the recording medium and executes it. It is also good. Note that the “computer system” referred to here may include an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
The “computer readable recording medium” is a writable non-volatile memory such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a flash memory, etc., a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and a computer system. Storage devices such as hard disks.

Furthermore, “computer-readable recording medium” refers to volatile memory (for example, DRAM (for example, DRAM (for example) in a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a wireless communication line such as a telephone line). Dynamic Random Access Memory), etc., includes those that hold a program for a certain period of time.
The program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a wireless communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication capacity management apparatus, 11 ... Remaining capacity management part, 12 ... Judgment part, 13 ... Communication capacity transfer part, 14 ... Transfer request reception part 14 ... Remaining capacity use control part, 16 ... Management data storage part, 17 ... Communication , 21: CPU unit, 22: storage unit, 24: communication capacity management program, 102: terminal, 104: base station, 106: wireless communication line, 108: gateway, 112: communication control device, 114: user contract information management Device, 116 ... settlement device

Claims (6)

With regard to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines having a limited communication capacity, a desired communication capacity out of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity in the first wireless communication line, the second wireless communication Transfer capacity transfer department to transfer to line,
A remaining capacity management unit for managing the remaining capacity of communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line and the communication capacity transferred from another wireless communication line included in the remaining capacity;
Equipped with
The remaining capacity management unit adds the remaining capacity related to the periodic grant communication capacity, which is the communication capacity with the expiration date given by a predetermined amount for each predetermined period, and the communication capacity with the usage time limit additionally purchased. It distinguishes and manages the remaining capacity related to purchased communication capacity and the remaining capacity related to communication capacity transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line, and relates to the transferred communication capacity The remaining capacity is updated to 0 every month.
Communication capacity management device. The remaining capacity related to the transferred communication capacity is a communication capacity transferred from the remaining capacity related to the periodic grant communication capacity in the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line.
The communication capacity management device according to claim 1. The communication capacity transfer unit is configured with the same transfer group indicating that different wireless communication lines can transfer communication capacity to each other with respect to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line. Transfer the communication capacity from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line,
The communication capacity management device according to claim 1 or 2. The remaining capacity management unit updates the remaining capacity relating to the transferred communication capacity to 0 when the expiration date of the transferred communication capacity at the transfer source is reached instead of every month.
The communication capacity management device according to claim 2 or 3. The communication capacity management device
With regard to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines having a limited communication capacity, a desired communication capacity out of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity in the first wireless communication line, the second wireless communication The transfer step of transfer capacity to transfer to the line,
A remaining capacity management step of managing a remaining capacity of communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line and a communication capacity transferred from another wireless communication line included in the remaining capacity;
Have
In the remaining capacity management step, the remaining capacity relating to the periodic grant communication capacity which is the communication capacity with the expiration date given by a predetermined amount for each predetermined period, and the communication capacity with the additionally purchased communication capacity with the expiration date It distinguishes and manages the remaining capacity related to purchased communication capacity and the remaining capacity related to communication capacity transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line, and relates to the transferred communication capacity The remaining capacity is updated to 0 every month.
Communication capacity management method. Communication capacity management computer,
With regard to the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, which are wireless communication lines having a limited communication capacity, a desired communication capacity out of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity in the first wireless communication line, the second wireless communication How to transfer to the line,
Means for managing the remaining capacity of communication capacity in each of the first wireless communication line and the second wireless communication line, and the communication capacity transferred from another wireless communication line included in the remaining capacity;
To act as
The means for carrying out the management of the communication capacity is the remaining capacity relating to the periodic grant communication capacity which is the communication capacity with the expiration date given by a predetermined amount every predetermined period, and the communication capacity with the expiration date additionally purchased. Separately managing the remaining capacity relating to the additional purchased communication capacity and the remaining capacity relating to the communication capacity transferred from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line, and the transferred communication Update the remaining capacity for capacity to 0 every month.
Computer program.

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