JP6745616B2 - Billing server, billing system and billing method - Google Patents

Description

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

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

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-156568

However, even if a service (hereinafter, also referred to as priority communication) that preferentially communicates with a specific communication terminal as described in Patent Document 1 is provided, the communication is interrupted or communication data is lost or temporarily lost. It is not always possible to avoid such inability to communicate. It is preferable that such communication quality deterioration such as communication interruption, communication data loss, and temporary communication failure be prevented. For example, when a content provider provides a service to a user through communication, from the viewpoint of giving the user an incentive to communicate with the content provider, the communication quality of the communication between the user and the content provider deteriorates. Preferably does not occur.
On the other hand, even if the communication quality is deteriorated, if the user who communicates with the content provider has some privilege, the user can be motivated to communicate with the content provider. There is.

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

(1) One aspect of the present invention includes application identification information regarding communication between a service provider and a service recipient, information indicating a quality standard of the communication, and a communication device that controls the quality of the communication. And a communication information acquisition unit for acquiring communication information including consent information indicating whether or not the recipient has consented to reduce the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, and a charge for charging the communication. and parts, comprising said communication quality to reduce than the quality standards of the communication on the condition that the donee is accepted, the privilege granting condition acquisition unit that acquires a privilege granted conditions for the communication, the object When the provider has a plurality of services under contract, it is determined which service of the plurality of services the privilege granted to the recipient is applied to, and the communication information acquisition unit acquires. Based on the communication information and the grant condition acquired by the privilege grant condition acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not the application with which the communication is performed is a privilege target application, and is determined to be a privilege target application. In the case of , and when the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to reduce the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, privilege processing based on the degree of deterioration of the quality of the communication is performed. It is a billing server including a privilege processing unit to perform.
(2) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the charging server according to (1), the privilege includes charging of the communication to a service provider, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication information. However, when the grant condition is satisfied, the privilege processing is performed by determining the charging destination of the communication by the charging unit to the provider.
(3) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to (1) or (2), the privilege includes a grant of a predetermined privilege, and the privilege processing unit is configured to transmit the communication information. If the grant condition is satisfied, the privilege processing is performed by granting the predetermined privilege to the recipient and charging the provider for the cost of the predetermined privilege.
(4) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the charging server according to any one of (1) to (3), the grant condition includes a condition based on whether or not a privilege target service is used, and the communication information includes Includes the service identification information for identifying the service provided by the communication, and the privilege processing unit indicates the service for which the privilege is included, in which the service identification information included in the communication information is included in the grant condition. Based on whether or not the privilege processing is performed.
(5) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to any one of (1) to (4), the grant condition includes a condition based on presence/absence of communication with a communication destination of a privilege target. The communication information includes communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination of the communication, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication target identification information included in the communication information for the privilege target included in the grant condition. The privilege process is performed based on whether or not the communication destination is indicated.
(6) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the charging server according to (1) to (5), the grant condition includes a transaction content of the service between the recipient and the provider. Based on the conditions, the communication information includes information indicating the transaction content, the communication information acquisition unit acquires information indicating the transaction content from a service provider, the privilege processing unit, The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the information indicating the transaction content included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the transaction content included in the grant condition.
(7) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the charging server according to (1) to (6), the giving condition includes a condition based on a time zone in which the communication is performed, and the communication information includes Is included in the privilege processing unit, and the privilege processing unit includes the information indicating the time of the communication included in the communication information, which is included in the grant condition. The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the condition based on the time zone is met.
( 8 ) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to (1) to ( 7 ), the privilege includes a first privilege and a second privilege having a higher value than the first privilege. A privilege is included, and the privilege processing unit performs the privilege process by selecting the first privilege and the second privilege based on the communication information and the granting condition.
( 9 ) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the billing server according to any one of (1) to ( 8 ), the privilege is provided with an expiration date, and the privilege processing unit includes the communication information acquisition unit. The privilege processing is performed by changing the expiration date of the privilege based on the communication information acquired by the user.
(10) Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication server including a communication unit that performs communication between a service provider and a service recipient, a charging unit that charges for the communication, and the communication. Whether or not the recipient consents that application identification information about the communication, information indicating the communication quality standard, and a communication device controlling the communication quality lowers the communication quality below the communication quality standard. A communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information including consent information indicating that the condition is that the recipient has consented to lowering the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, the privilege for the communication In the case where there are a plurality of services for which the benefit grant condition acquisition unit that obtains grant conditions and the service provider are in contract, which service of the plurality of services the benefit granted to the service provider is applied to with determining, and the communication information by the communication information acquiring unit acquires, on the basis on the grant conditions the privilege granting condition acquiring unit acquires, if the application that the communication is performed is the benefits target application When it is determined whether or not the application is a privilege target , and when the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to lower the quality of the communication from the quality standard of the communication, The billing system includes: a billing server including a privilege processing unit that performs a privilege process based on a degree of deterioration of communication quality .
(1 1 ) Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, application identification information regarding communication between a service provider and a service recipient, information indicating a quality standard of the communication, and quality of the communication are controlled. A communication information acquisition step of acquiring communication information including consent information indicating whether or not the provided person has consented that the communication device lowers the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, and charging for the communication And a privilege granting condition acquisition step of acquiring a privilege granting condition for the communication , including the condition that the recipient has consented to lower the quality of the communication from a quality standard of the communication. In the case where there are a plurality of services under contract for the service provider, it is determined which service of the plurality of services the privilege granted to the service provider is applied to, and the communication information acquisition step Based on the acquired communication information and the grant condition acquired in the privilege grant condition acquisition step, it is determined whether or not the application with which the communication is performed is a privilege target application, and the privilege target If it is determined that the application, and if the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to lower the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, the degree of deterioration of the quality of the communication And a privilege processing step of performing privilege processing based on the charging method.

According to the present invention, the user can be motivated to communicate with the content provider.

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

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of a privilege service related to communication will be described with reference to FIG.

[Outline of privilege services related to communication]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of a privilege service related to communication according to the present embodiment. The privilege service is a service provided between the telecommunications carrier CA, the content provider CP, and the user UR (user).
In this example, the content provider CP is a moving picture distribution company, and provides moving pictures via a communication system provided by the communication company CA. The user UR purchases the moving image content, which is a product, from the content provider CP via the communication system provided by the communication carrier CA. The flow of the privilege service in the case of this example will be described.

The user UR makes an application for service provision to the content provider CP (step S1). Specifically, the user UR orders the content provider CP for distribution of the moving image content via the web page provided by the content provider CP.
The content provider CP provides the service to the user UR (step S2). Specifically, the content provider CP provides the moving image content according to the order from the user UR to the user UR via the communication provided by the communication carrier CA.

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

The communication carrier CA provides the privilege to the user UR when the communication information satisfies a predetermined condition (grant condition) (step S4). That is, when the user UR communicates with the content provider CP and the communication satisfies a predetermined condition, the user UR is provided with a privilege from the communication carrier CA. These benefits include free communication charges, discounts on communication charges, free communication packet amount (data amount), discounted communication packet amount (data amount), priority communication (priority allocation of communication frequency), etc. Is included. In addition, the grant condition includes a condition that determines whether or not the privilege is granted, and a condition that determines the content or degree of the privilege. The telecommunications carrier CA determines, based on the content of the communication information, whether or not to grant the privilege, and the content and degree of the privilege when the privilege is granted. That is, the telecommunications carrier CA provides the user UR with a privilege corresponding to the content and degree of the communication information.

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

That is, according to this privilege service, the content provider CP can provide a privilege to the user UR via the communication carrier CA. Therefore, according to this privilege service, the user UR can be motivated to apply for service provision to the content provider CP. That is, according to this privilege service, the user UR can be motivated to communicate with the content provider CP.
The configuration of the communication system that realizes this privilege service will be described below.

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

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

The communication control device 10 performs priority control of communication between the CP server and the terminal. Details of the functional configuration of the communication control device 10 will be described later.
The EPC 20 performs authentication, movement control, bearer management, billing, QoS (Quality of Service) control, and the like. The EPC 20 includes a P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway) 200, an S-GW (Serving Gateway) 201, a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) 202, and an MME (Mobility Manager, 203). It

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

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

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

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

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

In the above description, the communication performed by the CP server 30-1 and the CP server 30-2 may be preferentially performed, and the communication performed by the CP server 31 may not be preferentially performed. , It is decided whether or not the communication may be preferentially performed for each server, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that it is determined whether or not communication is preferentially performed for each site included in each CP server. That is, for example, priority communication is performed in the case of communication that accesses a certain specific site, and priority communication is not performed in the case of communication that accesses a site other than the specific site. It may be configured.

The HSS 80 is a subscriber information database of subscribers (users) who are provided with communication services by the communication system 1, and manages authentication information and location information of terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71).
The billing server 90 is a system for billing CP servers (CP server 30-1, CP server 30-2, and CP server 31) or terminals (terminal 70 and terminal 71), and is, for example, online. A charging system (OCS; Online Charging System) or an offline charging system (OFCS: Offline Charging System) is included.

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

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

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

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

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

The billing information storage unit 912 is a storage medium, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD; Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a read only memory (ROM). (Random Access read/write Memory; readable/writable memory), or any combination thereof.

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

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

The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether to grant a privilege to communication based on the communication information acquired by the privilege granting condition acquisition unit 921 and the granting condition acquired by the privilege granting condition acquisition unit 921.
The privilege granted to the user UR by the privilege processing unit 923 includes free or discount of communication charge, grant of communication usage right, and increase of data communication amount available to the user. The privilege processing unit 923 outputs the content of the privilege to the charging unit 91 when the communication charge is given as a free charge or a discount. The billing unit 91 generates billing data based on the result determined by the privilege processing unit 923. Specifically, the charging unit 91 determines the charging destination from the user UR to the content provider CP for part or all of the charging amount to the user UR.

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

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

[Bonus pattern 1: Granting a privilege by using a specific application]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether the communication is performed by a specific application. Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target application information. The privilege target application information is information indicating an application that is a privilege target among various applications running on the terminal. In this case, the privilege is granted to the user UR when the user UR communicates with the content provider CP using the privilege target application. Here, the application targeted for the privilege includes an application provided by the content provider CP. For example, when the content provider CP is a moving picture distributor, the privileged application includes a moving picture viewing application. Further, for example, when the content provider CP is a mail-order business, the privilege target application includes a product selection application.
The billing server 90 can give the user UR an incentive to communicate with the content provider CP by giving a privilege to the use of the application recommended by the content provider CP.
Note that the billing server 90 may use an application recommended by the content provider CP, and may further give a privilege to having paid transaction with the content provider CP. Even with this configuration, the billing server 90 can give the user UR an incentive to communicate with the content provider CP.

[Privilege pattern 2: Grant of privilege due to communication with specific URL]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines whether the communication is performed with respect to a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Specifically, the privilege grant condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target access destination information. The privilege target access destination information is information indicating the access destination that is the target of the privilege among various access destinations. In this case, a privilege is granted to the user UR when the user UR accesses the URL provided by the content provider CP. Here, the URL provided by the content provider CP includes the URL of the home page or portal site of the content provider CP. The URL provided by the content provider CP includes URLs for campaigns, banner advertisements, trial use of content, etc. provided by the content provider CP.
The charging server 90 can give the user UR an incentive to communicate with the content provider CP by giving a privilege to access to the URL recommended by the content provider CP.

[Bonus pattern 3: Granting benefits according to transaction status]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP. Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target transaction information. The privilege target transaction information is information indicating the transaction status to which the privilege is given, among the transaction statuses between the user UR and the content provider CP. The transaction status includes a user ID for identifying the user UR, the presence/absence of a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP, the number of transactions, the transaction frequency, the date and time, the product name, and the like. For example, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege when the content provider CP is accessed a predetermined number of times or more. In addition, the privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege if there is a transaction even once in the past within the month in which communication is performed. When the transaction presence/absence is a privilege granting condition, the privilege processing unit 923 determines whether or not there is a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP. The privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to the user UR when there is a transaction between the user UR and the content provider CP or when there is no transaction. An example of giving a privilege when there is a transaction is a “repeater privilege”. Further, there is a "new customer benefit" as an example of giving a benefit when there is no transaction.
The transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP includes the status of the member registration processing of the user UR with the content provider CP and the status of the purchase processing of products and the like. The privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege, for example, when the user UR registers as a new member in the content provider CP.
Further, the description will be made assuming that the billing server 90 acquires the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP by receiving the communication content exchanged between the user UR and the content provider CP, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the content provider CP may include a database (not shown) that stores the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP. In this case, the charging server 90 may acquire the transaction status between the user UR and the content provider CP from the database of the content provider CP.

[Variation: Granting a privilege according to transaction status]
The privilege processing unit 923 may grant a privilege even when the user UR does not purchase a product or the like. Specifically, the privilege processing unit 923 gives a privilege to a state in which the user UR has applied for purchase of a product or the like and has not paid the price. Further, the privilege processing unit 923 gives a privilege when the user UR cancels the purchase application after applying for the purchase of the product or the like. In this case, the privilege processing unit 923 may give a privilege of low value as compared with the case where the user UR has purchased a product or the like. In other words, the privilege processing unit 923 may give a low-value privilege before purchasing a product or the like and a high-value privilege before purchasing a product or the like.
Further, the privilege processing unit 923 may determine the content of the privilege to be granted, based on the purchase history of the product etc. by the user UR and the cumulative transaction amount. Specifically, the privilege processing unit 923 gives a higher-value privilege to the user UR when the transaction cumulative amount by the user UR is large.
In addition, the privilege processing unit 923 may give a privilege of a value according to the member rank when the user UR has registered as a member with the content provider CP.

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

[Privilege pattern 4: Grant of privilege according to communication time zone]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines the time zone during which the communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed. Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target time zone information. The privilege target time zone information is information indicating a time zone in which the privilege is granted, of the time zones in which the communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed. The privilege processing unit 923 determines by comparing the time zone of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP with the privilege target time zone information. The privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to the user UR when the time zone of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is the time zone of the privilege target. As the time zone to which the privilege is granted, for example, a time zone with a low communication amount such as midnight or early morning is selected. The billing server 90 can level the daily communication amount by urging the charging server 90 to use the time period when the communication amount is small.
Further, the privilege processing unit 923 may determine the grant of the privilege by combining the time period in which the communication between the user UR and the content provider CP is performed and the communication amount (packet amount). In this case, the privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to the user UR when communication is performed between the user UR and the content provider CP in a predetermined time period by a predetermined amount or more. With this configuration, the billing server 90, for example, distinguishes between a user UR that performs a small amount of communication for the benefit and a user UR that communicates content that uses many packets, and provides the benefit. be able to. Therefore, the billing server 90 can prompt the user UR to perform more communication in a predetermined time period.

[Privilege pattern 5: Grant of privilege according to communication quality]
The privilege processing unit 923 determines the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP. Specifically, the privilege granting condition storage unit 922 stores privilege target communication quality information. The privilege target communication quality information is information indicating a quality standard of communication performed between the user UR and the content provider CP. The privilege processing unit 923 determines the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP by comparing the quality of communication with the privilege target communication quality information. The privilege processing unit 923 grants a privilege to the user UR when the quality of communication between the user UR and the content provider CP satisfies or does not satisfy the quality standard of the privilege target. The quality standard of communication to which a privilege is given includes the degree of communication congestion, the degree of packet loss (packet loss), and the presence/absence of communication failure. For example, as a quality standard of communication to which a privilege is given, a situation in which communication is more congested is selected. In this case, the billing server 90 gives a privilege when the communication is congested and the quality of the content provided by the content provider CP is deteriorated. Further, the privilege processing unit 923 may change the content of the privilege according to the degree of deterioration of the communication quality and give the privilege. For example, the privilege processing unit 923 gives more privileges to the user UR as the packet loss degree is higher. The billing server 90 can reduce the dissatisfaction of the user UR by giving a privilege in return for the deterioration of the content quality.

[Modification]
Based on the detection data of the communication device acquired by the detection unit of the communication control device 10, the user terminal in communication connection is notified. The notification is, for example, displaying a screen on the application on the user terminal asking for confirmation of intention to reduce the communication quality (throughput) of the user. The communication control device transmits the control information to the communication device, and controls the communication quality (QoS or the like) for the user terminal that has consented to the decrease in the communication quality. The billing server grants a privilege to the user on the condition that the confirmation is performed as a privilege granting condition. An upper limit is set for the number of users who are granted the privilege.

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

[Modification: Granting a privilege with an expiration date]
The billing server 90 may give a privilege with an expiration date to the user UR. Specifically, when the usage right of communication is given to the user UR as a privilege, the charging server 90 may set an expiration date for the usage right. In this case, for example, the billing server 90 determines the expiration date by setting the timing of granting the communication usage right at the start of the expiration date. Further, the billing server 90 may set the expiration date by setting the timing of the first use of the communication usage right at the start of the expiration date.
Further, in this case, the billing server 90 may perform the privilege processing by changing the expiration date of the privilege based on the communication information acquired by the privilege granting condition acquisition unit 921. Specifically, the charging server 90 extends the expiration date of the communication usage right when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition includes, for example, a case where the user UR accesses a banner advertisement of the content provider CP, a case where the user UR uses a predetermined application, and the like.
With this configuration as well, the billing server 90 can give the user UR an incentive to communicate with the content provider CP.

[Modification: Granting privilege with usable range restriction]
The billing server 90 may give the user UR a privilege whose usable range is limited. Specifically, when the user UR is granted the communication usage right as a privilege, the charging server 90 may set the usable range to this usage right. This usable range includes, for example, a specific application and a specific URL. That is, the billing server 90 may give a privilege that can be used only for a specific application or a specific URL to the user UR.

[Privilege pattern 7: Grant of privilege based on communication volume]
When the terminal is used for IoT (Internet of Things), for example, when the terminal is used for monitoring the water level of a river, the following usage patterns are possible. That is, the terminal transmits the current water level data to a specific connection destination in normal times, and transmits a moving image of the surrounding conditions photographed by the surveillance camera in an emergency such as flooding. In such a usage pattern, the amount of data transmitted in an emergency is extremely large compared to the amount of data transmitted in normal times. In the case of this usage pattern, the communication priority is low in normal times, and the communication priority is high in an emergency. Therefore, in the case of this usage mode, a contract is performed in which communication with a lower priority is performed in normal times and communication with a higher priority in an emergency. Contracts for higher priority communications can be expensive. For this reason, if a communication service contract is made in accordance with the amount of communication and the priority of an emergency, which occurs only for a short period of time, there is a problem that it is difficult to dispel the user UR's feeling of being overvalued for normal communication.

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

FIG. 5: is a figure which shows an example of the burden reduction of the user UR by the charging server 90 which concerns on this embodiment. Waveforms W1 to W3 in the figure show the transition of the data communication amount with respect to the contract period of the terminal of a certain user UR. Here, the waveform W1 shows the amount of data communication in the period T1. In this example of water level monitoring, the period T1 is a period during which the river maintains a normal water level and water level data is transmitted. In this period T1, the data communication amount by the user UR is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold Th. The predetermined threshold value Th is a usage threshold value of the data communication amount defined in the contract between the user UR and the communication carrier CA.

The waveform W2 in the figure shows the data communication amount in the period T2. In this example of water level monitoring, the period T2 is a period during which the river is flooding and video data is being transmitted. In this period T2, the amount of data communication by the user UR exceeds the predetermined threshold Th.
The waveform W3 shows the data communication amount in the period T3. In this example of water level monitoring, the period T3 is a period during which the river maintains a normal water level. In this period T3, the amount of data communication by the user UR is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold Th.

In the contract between the user UR and the telecommunications carrier CA, when the data communication amount exceeds the threshold Th, the upper limit value of the communication speed decreases as compared with the case where the data communication amount does not exceed the threshold Th. The priority of may decrease. That is, in this contract, if the data communication amount exceeds the threshold value Th, the user UR is disadvantageous. For this reason, the user UR is motivated to perform communication in normal times so that the data communication amount does not exceed the threshold Th. When the data communication amount is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold Th as shown by the waveform W1, the unused amount V1 is generated. The user UR can make other users UR who want to preferentially use the communication line use the unused amount V1. That is, the bandwidth of the communication line can be exchanged between the user URs.

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

In addition, the billing server 90 may subtract the charge for the data communication amount V2 corresponding to the unused amount V1 from the data communication charges for the period T2. With this configuration also, the charging server 90 can reduce the cost burden on the user UR by changing the charging destination of the data communication charge.

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

The billing server 90 of the present embodiment can also be applied to, for example, a food and beverage ordering (menu order) system in a restaurant. The content provider CP displays a menu screen of food and drink on the terminal of the user UR in the restaurant. The user UR orders food and drink by operating his terminal. The content provider CP provides food and drink to the user UR according to the order from the user UR. The billing server 90 acquires the communication status between the user UR and the content provider CP. If the charging server 90 determines that the communication for ordering is being performed between the user UR and the content provider CP, the charging destination of this communication is switched from the user UR to the content provider CP. If the charging server 90 determines that communication for ordering is being performed between the user UR and the content provider CP, the user UR may be provided with a privilege such as a coupon that can be used at this restaurant. ..

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

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

Although the embodiments of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described above, these embodiments and the modifications thereof are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and the modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and at the same time, included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

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

Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above.
Further, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

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

Claims (11)

Application identification information relating to communication between a service provider and a service recipient, information indicating the quality standard of the communication, and a communication device controlling the quality of the communication determines the quality of the communication as the quality of the communication. A communication information acquisition unit for acquiring communication information including consent information indicating whether or not the recipient has consented to lowering the standard .
A billing unit for billing the communication,
A privilege granting condition acquisition unit that acquires a privilege granting condition for the communication , including the condition that the recipient accepts that the quality of the communication is lower than a quality standard of the communication,
When there are a plurality of services under contract by the service provider, it is determined which service of the plurality of services the benefit granted to the service provider applies to, and the communication information acquisition unit acquires. Based on the communication information and the grant condition acquired by the privilege grant condition acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not the application with which the communication is performed is a privilege target application, and it is a privilege target application. If it is determined , and if the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to lower the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, a privilege based on the degree of deterioration of the quality of the communication. A privilege processing unit for processing,
A billing server equipped with. The award includes charging of the communication to a service provider,
The privilege processing unit,
The billing server according to claim 1, wherein when the communication information satisfies the grant condition, the privilege process is performed by setting a charging destination of the communication by the charging unit to the provider. The award includes granting a predetermined award,
The privilege processing unit,
When the communication information satisfies the grant condition, the privilege process is performed by granting the predetermined privilege to the recipient and charging the provider for the cost of the predetermined privilege. The billing server according to claim 1 or 2. The awarding condition includes a condition based on whether or not the service targeted for the privilege is used,
The communication information includes service identification information for identifying a service provided by the communication,
The privilege processing unit,
The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the service identification information included in the communication information indicates the privilege target service included in the grant condition. The listed billing server. The awarding condition includes a condition based on the presence or absence of communication with the communication destination of the privilege target,
The communication information includes communication destination identification information for identifying a communication destination of the communication,
The privilege processing unit,
The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the communication destination identification information included in the communication information indicates a communication destination of the privilege target included in the grant condition. The billing server described in the section. The grant condition includes a condition based on the transaction content of the service between the recipient and the provider,
The communication information includes information indicating the transaction content,
The communication information acquisition unit,
Acquire information indicating the transaction details from the service provider,
The privilege processing unit,
The privilege processing is performed based on whether or not the information indicating the transaction content included in the communication information satisfies a condition based on the transaction content included in the grant condition. The billing server according to item 1. The giving condition includes a condition based on a time zone in which the communication is performed,
The communication information includes information indicating the time when the communication was performed,
The privilege processing unit,
The privilege process is performed based on whether or not the information indicating the time at which the communication is included, which is included in the communication information, satisfies a condition based on a time period during which the communication is included, which is included in the giving condition. The charging server according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The privilege includes a first privilege and a second privilege having a higher value than the first privilege,
The privilege processing unit,
Based on said grant conditions and the communication information, by selecting the first award and said second privilege, billing according to claims 1 for the privilege processing to any one of claims 7 server. The award has an expiration date,
The privilege processing unit,
Wherein based on the communication information, by changing the expiration date of the offer, the billing server as claimed in any one of claims 8 to perform the privilege processing by the communication information acquiring unit acquires. A communication server including a communication unit that performs communication between a service provider and a service recipient.
A billing unit for billing the communication,
Whether the recipient consents that the application identification information related to the communication, the information indicating the communication quality standard, and the communication device controlling the communication quality lowers the communication quality below the communication quality standard. A communication information acquisition unit that acquires communication information including consent information indicating whether or not ;
A privilege granting condition acquisition unit that acquires a privilege granting condition for the communication , including the condition that the recipient accepts that the quality of the communication is lower than a quality standard of the communication,
When there are a plurality of services under contract by the service provider, it is determined which service of the plurality of services the benefit granted to the service provider applies to, and the communication information acquisition unit acquires. Based on the communication information and the grant condition acquired by the privilege grant condition acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not the application with which the communication is performed is a privilege target application, and it is a privilege target application. If it is determined , and if the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to lower the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, a privilege based on the degree of deterioration of the quality of the communication. A privilege processing unit for processing,
A billing server having
Billing system with. Application identification information relating to communication between a service provider and a service recipient, information indicating the quality standard of the communication, and a communication device controlling the quality of the communication determines the quality of the communication as the quality of the communication. A communication information acquisition step of acquiring communication information including consent information indicating whether or not the recipient has consented to lowering than a standard ;
A charging step of charging for the communication;
A privilege granting condition acquisition step of acquiring a privilege granting condition for the communication , including the condition that the recipient accepts that the quality of the communication is lower than a quality standard of the communication,
When there are a plurality of services under contract by the service provider, it is determined which service of the plurality of services the privilege granted to the service provider is applied to, and the information is acquired in the communication information acquisition step. Based on the communication information and the grant condition acquired in the privilege grant condition acquisition step, it is determined whether the application with which the communication is performed is a privilege target application, and the privilege target application is determined. If it is determined that , and if the consent information indicates that the recipient has consented to reduce the quality of the communication below the quality standard of the communication, based on the degree of deterioration of the quality of the communication. and benefits processing step of performing a privilege treatment,
A billing method having.

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