JPH01253362A - Cal charge calculating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily calculate the total call charge with high efficiency by obtaining the application section of the communication network of another communication business company to the calls received via each communication network of plural communication business companies and calculating the call charge for the communication network of the former communication business company. CONSTITUTION:Calling dial information is analyzed and it is decided based on this analyzing result whether or not a call belongs to a communication network NCC7 of another communication business company. Based on the result of said decision, a 1st call charge calculating part 12 is started with calls carried out via a NTT network 5 only. While a 2nd call charge calculating part 13 is started with use of the NCC network 7. Then the part 13 calculates the call charge for the designated network 7. Then the prescribed value is added to the call charge of the network 7 for calculation of the total call charge. This total call charge is informed to an extension telephone terminal 2 serving as a caller and displayed on a display device contained in the terminal 2, for example.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a method for easily calculating call charges for communications via the communication networks of multiple communication carriers and providing information on call charges. Relating to computing devices.

(Prior Art) For communication (call) carried out by borrowing the communication network of a communication company, charges are charged according to the communication distance and communication time per communication time period. For example, within Japan,
Most of these telephone terminals communicate (call) using the communication network (referred to as the NTT network) of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, a telecommunications company. The above-mentioned telecommunications company analyzes the outgoing dialing information from the telephone terminal and calculates the basic call charge per unit time from the communication distance and communication time information to the destination telephone terminal, and calculates the basic call charge per unit time. The fee for using the communication network, that is, the call fee, is calculated from the fee and the call time measured from the call information of the call. This call fee is charged to the user (owner) of the telephone terminal.

By the way, with the liberalization of the telecommunications industry, a number of telecommunications companies other than the above-mentioned telecommunications companies were established, and communications were made using the communication networks of these telecommunications companies (referred to as the NCC network). It has become possible to make (phone calls). However, as mentioned above, most telephone terminals are connected to the NTT network, and generally the NTT network and the NCC network are used in a mixed manner. Specifically, the telephone terminal on the calling side is connected to a station via the NTT network, from this station via the NCC network to the destination station, and then from this station via the NTT network. connected to the other phone terminal. Therefore, when calculating the call charges mentioned above, the call charge on the calling side's NTT network, the call charge on the NCC network, and the call charge on the called party's NTT network are calculated separately, and the sum of the charges is calculated. There was a problem in that it required a very large processing load.

That is, when making a call via the NCC network, it is necessary to calculate the distance to the other party multiple times by, for example, referring to a table that associates dial information with distance.
Moreover, since the structure of the table is complicated and large, it is undeniable that the processing load becomes extremely large. In particular, even if the private branch exchange itself calculates the call charges for calls made from an extension terminal housed in the private branch exchange, and attempts to provide a notification service of this to the extension terminal, it is extremely difficult to realize this due to the processing capacity of the private branch exchange itself. It was difficult.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional method of calculating call charges, it is difficult to easily and efficiently calculate call charges for calls made via the communication networks of multiple communication carriers. was extremely difficult. For this reason, there have been problems such as, for example, it is extremely difficult to notify the caller of call charge information during a call.

The present invention was made taking these circumstances into consideration.
The purpose of this is to easily and efficiently calculate the call charges even when calls are made via the communication networks of multiple telecommunications carriers, and to provide a service that notifies the caller of the charges, for example. The object of the present invention is to provide a call charge calculation device that enables the following.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A call charge calculation device according to the present invention is capable of converting call dialing information from a terminal connected to the communication network of a specific communication company to that of another communication company. When indicating that the call is made via a communication network, for example, the usage area of another telecommunications company's communication network is determined from the calling dial information, and the call charges for the usage area of this other telecommunications company's communication network are calculated as above. The present invention is characterized in that the total call charge using each of the communication networks is calculated by calculating the call charge from the call information of the outgoing call, and adding or multiplying the calculated call charge by a specific numerical value.

(Operation) According to the present invention, when the dialing information from a terminal connected to the communication network of a specific communication company indicates that the call is being made via the communication network of another communication company, For example, the usage area of another communication company's communication network can be determined from the calling dial information. If the usage section of the communication network of another communication company is determined, the usage section of the communication network of the above-mentioned specific communication company from that usage section to the telephone terminal is automatically specified. Specifically, when each access point that is the usage area of the communication network of another telecommunications company is determined, the usage area of the communication network of a specific telecommunications company between that access point and the telephone terminal is determined. You can ask for it. Moreover, the area in which the communication network of this particular communication company is used is generally a so-called local call area.

From this, as mentioned above, if you find the usage area of another telecommunications company's communication network and calculate the call charges on the communication network of the other telecommunications company from the call information of the call, for example, the call charges will be By adding the company's basic call charge or multiplying by a coefficient depending on the situation of the call, it is possible to obtain information on the overall call charge, albeit roughly. In other words, the entire call charge can be calculated simply and efficiently by calculating the call charge for one time using the communication network of another communication company, and there is no need to worry about increasing the processing burden.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a private branch exchange incorporating a call charge calculation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a concept of calls connected via lines of communication networks of multiple communication companies. FIG.

A private branch exchange 1 connects a plurality of extension telephone terminals 2 to a line circuit (L
C) Connect and accommodate each of the trunk circuits (
TR) 4 is a central office line, that is, a specific telecommunications company's communication network (
Generally speaking, it is connected to the NTT network (NTT network) 5 and controls internal calls between extension telephone terminals 2 and external telephone calls from the extension telephone terminals 2 via the central office line 5.

A central office line call from the extension telephone terminal 2 is given from the private branch exchange 1 to the NTT network 5, and normally a communication path is formed with the destination telephone terminal B via the NTT network 5. A call is made. However, by dialing a predetermined special number from the extension telephone terminal 2, you can connect to another telecommunications company's communication network (
When the NTT network 5 is instructed to set up a communication path via the NCC network 7, the NTT network 5 relays the NCC network 7 and forms a communication path with the destination telephone terminal 6 in accordance with the instruction. In this case, the extension telephone terminal 2 is routed from the private branch exchange l through the NTT network 5 on the calling side, relays the specified NCC network 7, and then relays the information to the telephone terminal at the destination via the NTT network 5 on the called side. The line will be connected to B. In this case, the calling side's NTT network 5, the designated NCC network 7. The sum of the call charges for each of the NTT network 5 on the called side will be charged to the private branch exchange 1 as the entire call charge.

Therefore, in response to a call originating from the extension telephone terminal 2, the private branch exchange 1 determines from the dial information whether the call is using only the NTT network 5 or is a call relayed through the NCC network 7. A dial analysis section 11, a first charge calculation section 12 that calculates a call charge for a call using only the NTT network 5 according to the analysis result, and a second charge calculation section that calculates a call charge for a call relayed through the NCC network 7. A calculation section 13 is provided.

Figure 2 shows the procedure for calculating call charges in the private branch exchange l using such charge calculation units 12 and 13, in which call dial information from the extension telephone terminal 2 and call information for the call are input. is started. Note that the call information for a call includes information on the start of a call upon reception of an incoming call response to a call, information on termination of a call upon a disconnection instruction, and the like.

When a call is made from the extension telephone terminal 2, the calling dial information is first analyzed (step a).

By analyzing this dialing information, we can determine whether it is a local call or not.
It is analyzed whether the call is a long-distance call and, in the case of a long-distance call, whether or not the communication network of another telecommunications company is to be used. When using another communication company's communication network (NCC network) 7, which communication company's communication network (NCC network) 7 is used, and which station is using that communication network (NCC network) 7? In other words, where is the access point (the connecting station between the NTT network 5 and the NCC network 7) of the communication network (NCC network) 7?

When the outgoing dial information is analyzed as described above, it is determined whether the outgoing call is for communication using the communication network (NCC) 7 of another telecommunications company based on the analysis result (step b).

As a result of this determination, in the case of a call using only the NTT network 5, the first call charge calculation section 12 is activated, and when the NCC network 7 is used, the second call charge calculation section 13 is activated.
is started.

Here, the first charge calculation unit 12 calculates the call distance (in the case of a local call or long distance call, the long distance call distance) according to the calling dial information from the extension telephone terminal 2, and calculates the call distance and the call distance. The call charge for the above-mentioned call is calculated based on the basic call charge determined according to the time zone (late night, holiday, etc.), and the call information (call time) of the call is taken into account. In other words, the processing in the first call charge calculation section 12 is as follows.
This is performed in the same way as conventional billing calculation processing.

In the case of a call using only NTT network 5, such a first
The call charge calculation unit 12 calculates the call charge (step C), and the information on the calculated call charge is notified to the extension telephone terminal 2 that is the originator of the call. (step d). Note that this call charge notification display is not limited to visual means, but can also be performed by audible means.

On the other hand, the second call charge calculation section 13, which is activated when the NCC network 7 is used, first calculates the specified N.
The call charge on the CC network 7 is calculated (step d). Calculation of call charges on this NCC network 7 is based on which communication company's communication network (NCC network) 7 and that communication network (NCC network) 7.
The use of NCC network 7 is based on the information on which access points are used, and the NCC network 7 is used between the access contesting points.
This is done by determining the basic call charge of , and calculating the call charge of the above-mentioned call based on this basic call charge, taking into consideration the call information (call time) of the call.

After that, in the second call charge total part 13, this NCC
By adding a predetermined value to the call charge on network 7, or by multiplying the above call charge by a predetermined value,
The call charges related to the use of network 5 + NCC network 7 + called side NTT network 5 are calculated (step f).

Information on the call charge obtained in this manner is notified to the extension telephone terminal 2, which is the calling source, in the same manner as the information on the call charge obtained by the first call charge calculation unit 12 described above, and, for example, It is displayed on the display provided in the extension telephone terminal 2 (step d).

To explain in more detail the processing in the second call charge calculation section 13, the structure of the communication line formed through the NCC network 7 is as schematically shown in FIG. 2 to the NTT network 5 to the access contention point α to the NCC network 7. NCC network 7 from this access point α to access point β to destination NTT network 5
, and the three communication lines of the NTT network 5 from this access point β to the destination telephone terminal B are connected in series.

On the other hand, the conditions under which the telephone terminals 2 and 6 can use the NCC network 7 are that each telephone terminal 2 and 8 can access the NCC network via the NTT network 5.
It is within the service area of C network 7. Each of the telephone terminals 2 and 6 then uses the NCC network 7 via the nearest connecting station within its service area (an access point between the NTT network 5 and the NCC network 7). In addition, the NCC network 7 is generally used for long-distance calls, and the NCC network 7 is used as the main long-distance signal path of the call line, and the NTT network is used at both ends of the call line. 5 will be used respectively. Specifically, the use of the NTT network 5 is the distance from the telephone terminals 2.8 on the calling and receiving sides to the nearest NCC network connection station, and generally to the same local station or adjacent area station. The distance will be .

As a result, most of the call charges are accounted for by the usage charges of the NCC network 7, and the usage charges of the NTT network 5 are generally cheaper, such as local call charges and call charges between adjacent toll stations. Become something.

Therefore, Honsoshichi calculates the access points α and β with the NCC network 7 from the above-mentioned analysis results of the calling dial information, and calculates the N between these access points α and β.
The main communication distance in the CC network 7 is calculated. At this time, since these access points α and β become the closest connection stations to the telephone terminals 2 and 13 on the calling side and the called side, the telephone terminals 2 and 6 and the access point α
, β in the NTT network 5 are also determined.

Then, the call charge for the NCC network 7, which forms the main part of the communication line, is calculated, and the basic call charge for the NTT network 5, which is determined in advance from the analysis result of the dial information, is added to this call charge, or the call charge is calculated based on the above dial analysis result. The total call charge including the usage charge (call charge) of the NTT network 5 is calculated by multiplying by a predetermined ratio value obtained from .

Incidentally, the addition of the basic call charge of the NTT network 5 and the multiplication by a predetermined ratio value are performed as appropriate depending on the call time and the like. Furthermore, since such ratio values and addition values can be prepared in advance by creating a table or the like according to the service area of the NCC network connection station, it is relatively easy to obtain the values.

Therefore, compared to the conventional processing procedure in which each call charge is calculated independently according to the call information and the calculation results are totaled, it is possible to significantly reduce the processing load for calculating call charges. In other words, only the call charge on the NCC network 7, which constitutes the main part of the call charge, is calculated,
Since the total call charge is calculated by correspondingly (indirectly) determining the call charge on the NTT network 5 according to the call charge, it is possible to significantly reduce the calculation processing burden.

Therefore, the private branch exchange 1 equipped with the above-mentioned call charge calculation function
According to this method, great practical effects can be achieved, such as being able to easily and effectively provide a call charge notification service to the extension telephone terminal 2.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be effectively applied when using the communication networks of various communication carriers. It is also possible to apply the present invention to a billing device, and in short, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the call charges when communicating from a telephone terminal connected to the communication network of a specific communication company through the communication network of another communication company are reduced. Since it can be determined through simple calculation processing, it has great practical effects, such as making it possible to implement a call charge notification service without increasing the processing load.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure shows a call charge calculation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the flow of call charge calculation processing procedures, and Figure 3 is an outline of a communication line configured through the communication networks of multiple communication carriers. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration. 1...Private branch exchange, 2...Extension telephone terminal, 5...
Communication network of a specific communication company (NTT network), 6... Telephone terminal, 7... Communication network of another communication company (NCC network), 11... Dial information analysis section, 12... First call charge calculation unit, 13...Second call charge calculation unit. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for determining whether or not a call is made via a communication network of another telecommunications company based on call dial information from a terminal connected to a communication network of a specific telecommunications company, and a means for determining whether or not the call is made via the communication network of another telecommunications company, When indicating that the communication is via the communication network of a telecommunications carrier, a means for calculating the call charge for using the communication network of the above-mentioned another telecommunications company from the call information of the call, and a predetermined call charge for the calculated call charge. A call charge calculation device characterized in that the total call charge using each of the communication networks is calculated by adding or multiplying the numerical values of .