JPH0575749A - Charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To the utility charge of a line to extension telephone sets impartially in a private branch exchange accommodating the line whose charge is decided independently of number of times of talkings. CONSTITUTION:A private branch exchange accommodates plural extension telephone sets T1-Tn and a line (exchange network B) whose charge is decided independently of number of times of talkings. When the extension telephone sets T1-Tn make a phone call to the exchange network B, a central controller 4 of the private branch exchange stores the operating time of each extension telephone set to a storage device 5, calculates the charging to the extension telephone sets T1-Tn in proportion to the operating time of each and allots the charging to the extension telephone sets T1-Tn in response to the result of calculation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system for a private branch exchange, and more particularly to a billing system for a private branch exchange that accommodates a line for which a billing charge is set without being limited by the number of calls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, since charges are made according to the call time for one call, in a private branch exchange, when an extension phone calls an outside line, the time when the extension phone talks is measured. However, the charging fee is calculated according to the call time. Then, when the call ends, the charge fee is added to the storage device corresponding to the extension telephone that made the call to calculate the usage fee.

However, in recent years, telephone service is diversifying, and the line usage fee is shown in FIG. 11 or FIG.
It may be set as shown in.

In FIG. 11, the horizontal axis indicates the call time, and the vertical axis indicates the usage charge per line for the call time. That is, regardless of the number of times the line is used, the call charge is determined only by the call time. In FIG. 11,
An example is shown in which the usage charge up to 10 hours is 5,000 yen, the usage charge over 10 hours and 15 hours is 8,000 yen, and the usage charge over 50 hours is 30,000 yen. ..

FIG. 12 shows an example in which the monthly line usage fee is fixed regardless of the call duration and the number of calls. FIG. 12 shows an example in which a fixed charge of 50,000 yen per line is set.

[0006]

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the private branch exchange accommodates a line whose call charge cannot be calculated for each call regardless of the number of times the line is used. The private branch exchange has a problem that the usage charge of the line cannot be properly distributed to the extension line.

In view of the above problems, the present invention legitimately divides the usage charge of a line into an extension telephone in a private branch exchange that accommodates a line for which a charging charge is determined without being limited to the number of calls. The purpose is to provide a billing method that can be allocated in the same manner.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises at least one
In a private branch exchange that accommodates one or more extension telephones and a line for which a charging fee is determined without being limited to the number of calls,
The usage time of the extension telephone that uses the line is stored, the charge for the extension telephone is calculated in proportion to the usage time, and the charging fee is divided to the extension telephone according to the calculation result. ..

[0009]

By storing the usage time of the extension telephone using the line, calculating the charge for the extension telephone in proportion to the usage time, and dividing the charging fee to the extension telephone according to the calculation result, Call charges are distributed to each extension telephone according to the usage time of each extension telephone.

As a result, in a private branch exchange that accommodates a line for which a billing fee is set regardless of the number of calls, the usage fee for that line can be properly divided and allocated to extension telephones.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a relay system diagram showing the configuration of a private branch exchange (PBX) of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the private branch exchange includes a speech path switch (SW) 1, and the extension telephones (T1, T2, ... Tn) are extension telephones (T1, T).
, ... Tn) are housed in the speech path switch 1 via an extension circuit (LIN) 2 for controlling Tn. Local line trunk (C
The OT) 3-1 is connected to the speech path switch 1 and controls connection with the upper station (A) (switching network), and the office line trunk (COT) 3-2 is connected to the speech path switch 1 and the upper station (B) Connection control with (dedicated line) is performed. The upper station (A) is a station that charges the call (charges according to the call time for one call), and the upper station (B), as shown in FIG. It shows the stations that set the call charge only by the call time, regardless of the number of times the line is used.

The control system bus 7 has a communication path switch 1, a central processing unit (CC) 4, a storage device (MEM) 5,
And a maintenance terminal (CS) 9 is connected.

The central processing unit 4 controls the entire telephone exchange, and performs call connection processing, various communication services, and billing processing. The storage device 5 stores various files including a program for the central processing unit 4 to control the entire telephone exchange, station data, and a file for storing billing information.

The maintenance terminal 9 is for inputting information for controlling the state of the telephone exchange at the time of setting or changing the station data of the telephone exchange, and for outputting the billing information. The central processing unit reads the data via the control system bus 7.

2 and 3 are diagrams showing files that are provided in the storage device 5 and are necessary for carrying out the accounting system of the present invention. 2 is a station line file (TU) provided corresponding to the station line trunk 3-2, and FIG. 3 is an extension file (SU) provided corresponding to the extension telephones (T1, T2, ... Tn). Is.

In FIG. 2, the station line file includes a station line number area 201 for storing the station line number, a totaling date / time area 202 for managing the totaling date / time, and a use time area for determining the use time of the station line. 205, a charge area 204 for storing the call charge for the usage time, and a usage time area 2
It is composed of a usage time determination area 203 for determining the charge area 204 based on 05. Note that these areas are registered by the maintenance terminal 9 as station data except for the usage time area 205. In addition, the station line file is
It is provided corresponding to each of the office line trunks 3-2, and here the number of office line trunks is m.

In FIG. 3, the extension file includes an extension area 301 that stores extension numbers, a station line usage time area 302 that stores usage time for each station line, and extension calls corresponding to the usage time for each station line. Call charge area 3 for storing charges
It is composed of 03 and. An extension file is provided corresponding to each of the extension telephones (T1, T2, ... Tn), and the extension file uses the local line use time area 3
02 and call charge area 303 are station line trunks 3-2
It is provided corresponding to.

4 and 5 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the present invention. The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, when the user performs an operation of hooking an extension telephone (for example, extension telephone T1) and transmitting a destination dial, the central control unit 4 receives the information via the extension circuit 2 and the dial is made. Analyze the signal. As a result, if the call is to the office line, the office line trunk 3-1 or 3-2 is captured based on the dial signal (step 401). Next, when the other party's response is detected (step 402), the station line number stored in the station line file corresponding to the captured station line trunk (FIG. 2, 20).
According to 1), regardless of the number of times the line is used, the line that determines the call charge only by the call time (the line that has a fixed charge for a fixed time)
It is determined whether or not the trunk line is connected to (step 403).

As a result of this discrimination, when it is discriminated that it is the station line trunk 3-1 connected to the station line for carrying out normal billing (paying according to the call time for one call) , Normal charging processing is performed (step 404). Here, the normal billing process is to bill one call according to the call time, and at the end of the call, store the result of the billing in a predetermined file corresponding to the extension telephone T1 that originated the call. It is something that is processed.

On the other hand, when it recognizes that it is connected to the office line trunk 3-2, which is connected to the office line of a fixed fee for a fixed time, after detecting the end of the call (step 405)
The trunk line trunk 3 that was capturing the call duration (call seconds)
-2 is used time area of the station line file (Fig. 2,
205)) (step 406). Next, the call time is added to the station line use time area (302 in FIG. 3) corresponding to the captured station line trunk in the extension file corresponding to the extension telephone (T1) that was talking ( Step 407). In this way, when a call is made to a fixed-rate office line for a fixed time, the call time is added to the station line file and extension file.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for calculating the call charge. First, it is determined whether it is the date and time for totaling the call charges (step 501). Here, if it is the date and time for totaling the call charges, the usage time area of the station line file (see FIG.
5) The corresponding usage time judgment area (see FIG. 2, 20)
3) is extracted and its usage time determination area (see FIG.
The charge area (204 in FIG. 2) corresponding to 3) is extracted and the usage charge of the station line is read (step 502). next,
The usage fee for the station line is the usage time area (204 in Fig. 2)
The unit price per second is calculated by dividing by the usage time stored in (step 504). Next, each extension telephone (T
1, T2, ... (Step 504), the result is stored in the corresponding call charge area (303 in FIG. 3) of the extension file (Step 505), and the charging process is ended. Note that this processing is performed for each of the office line trunks 3-2, and the results thereof are stored in the corresponding call charge areas (303 in FIG. 3) of the extension file.

As described above, the billing process is carried out when a call is made to a station line with a fixed charge at a fixed time. The call charge finally output is the call charge area of the extension file (see FIG. 3,
It is obvious that the total of all the charges in step 303) and the area (not shown) in which the charges when transmitting to a general office line are registered are the total.

The above description is for the case where the central control unit of the private branch exchange carries out the charging process. Next, the charging process is a device different from the central control unit (charging device).
A case will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a relay system diagram of a private branch exchange in the case where the billing process is performed by a device (billing device) different from the central control unit.

6 is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 1 in that the control system bus 7 has a charging interface device (K).
IF) 6 is connected, and the charging device 8 transmits / receives information to / from the central control device 4 via the charging interface device 6.

The charging device 8 has an interface section 8-2.
A control unit (CPU) 8-1 that is connected to the interface unit 8-2 and controls the entire charging device; and a control unit 8-1
And a storage unit (MM) 8-3 for storing various files for charging and an operation program of the control unit, and a control unit 8-
An input unit (CS) 8-4 that is connected to the server 1 and inputs data and the like to a file in the storage unit 8-4 is included.

The storage unit 8-3 stores the station line file shown in FIG. 2 and the extension file shown in FIG.

9 and 10 are diagrams showing the contents of the charging information received by the charging device 8 from the central control device 6 via the control system bus 7 and the charging interface device 6. In FIG. 9, the billing information includes call time 901, call start time 902, dial number 903, and extension number 9
04, originating station line number 905, destination type 906 indicating the destination line type, and call end time 907.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of another example of the billing information. The call time 1001 and the call start time 1
002, dial number 1003, and extension number 10
04, calling station line number 1005, and call end time 100
Includes 7 and.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation relating to the charge of the central control unit 4 in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the charge unit 8.

The operation of the charging process will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8.

First, when the user performs an operation of hooking an extension telephone (for example, the extension telephone T1) and transmitting a destination dial, the central control unit 4 receives the information via the extension circuit 2 and the dial is made. Analyze the signal. As a result, if the call is to the office line, the office line trunk 3-1 or 3-2 is captured based on the dial signal (step 701). Next, when the response of the other party is detected (step 702), the call time is measured (step 703). Next, the end of the call is detected (step 70).
4) The billing information is edited (step 705). This billing information is used to generate billing information having the content shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, and includes call time, call start time, dial number, outgoing extension number, originating station line number, and call end time. It is configured by a combination or a combination in which the destination type is added. Then, the edited billing information is sent to the billing device 8 via the control system bus 7 and the billing interface device 6.

On the other hand, in the billing device 8, when the control section 8-1 receives the billing information via the interface section 8-2 (step 801), the destination is given a fixed fee for a certain period of time based on the received billing information. It is discriminated whether or not the line is a local line (step 802). As a determination method, when the received billing information is as shown in FIG. 9 and includes the destination type 906, the determination is made based on the destination type 906. Also,
When the received billing information is as shown in FIG. 10 and the destination type is not included, the office line originating number 1005 is extracted, and the destination type is determined by this. This can be easily realized by providing a file for determining the destination type by the station line transmission number 1005 in the storage unit 8-3 in advance.

As a result of this determination (step 802), if the callee recognizes that it is an office line that performs normal charging (charges according to the call time for one call), normal charging processing is performed. Is performed (step 803).

On the other hand, when it is recognized that the call is made to a fixed-rate office line at a fixed time, the call time is extracted from the received billing information, and the call time is set to the calling station line number (station line trunk 3-2. No.) is added to the usage time area (205 in FIG. 2) of the station line file (step 80).
4). Next, the call duration is also added to the station line use time area (302 in FIG. 3,) corresponding to the captured station line trunk in the extension file corresponding to the originating extension number (step 805). , The process ends. In this way, when a call is made to a fixed-rate office line for a fixed time, the call time is added to the station line file and extension file.

The processing for calculating the call charge is performed by the charging device 8 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This processing is the same as the content described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

As described above, even when the billing device is installed separately from the central control unit, the billing process can be similarly performed.

The above description is for a case where a fixed fee is charged for a fixed time depending on the type of the office line, but when a call is made to a specific place (a specific destination area), that is, In the case of a specific dial (specific dial), there is also a service in which a fixed fee is charged at a fixed time.

Next, a charging process in the case of a charging system in which a fixed charge is charged at a fixed time by a specific dial will be described.

The station line file corresponding to the station trunk shown in FIG. 2 is made into a specific dial file corresponding to each specific dial, and the station line use time area 302 of the extension file corresponding to each extension telephone shown in FIG. Set the specific dial use time to correspond to each specific dial, and
Also, the portion described as the office line file in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is replaced with the specific dial file. It is apparent that the present invention can be applied to a billing method in which a fixed fee is charged at a fixed time by a specific dial by changing the central line file to the specific dial file and operating in the same manner as described above. Is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, regardless of the call time, the billing process when a call is always made to a line or a specific dial destination, which has a fixed call charge, is performed in the charge area 204 of the station line file shown in FIG. If one is prepared, it is not necessary to have the usage time judgment area 203, and by storing a fixed amount of call charges in that charge area, similarly, the usage charge of the line is legitimately divided for the extension telephones. Can be allocated by

[0044]

According to the present invention, in a private branch exchange accommodating a line (a line which charges a fixed fee at a fixed time) in which the charging fee is determined without being limited to the number of calls, the usage charge of the line is extended. It can be properly divided and allocated to the telephone.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a relay system diagram of a private branch exchange of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a station line file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an extension file.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a relay system diagram of a private branch exchange according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the content of billing information transmitted from the central control device to the billing device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of billing information of another embodiment transmitted from the central control device to the billing device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between a call duration and a call charge.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a correspondence relationship between a call duration and a call charge.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication path switch, T1-Tn ... Extension telephone, 2 ... Extension circuit, 3-1, 3-2 ... Station line trunk, 4 ... Central processing unit, 5 ... Storage device, 7 ... Control system bus, 9 ... Maintenance Terminal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A private branch exchange accommodating at least one or more extension telephones and a line for which a charging fee is determined without being limited to the number of calls, stores the usage time of the extension telephones using the line, A billing method characterized in that a billing for an extension telephone is calculated in proportion to the usage time, and a billing fee is divided to the extension telephones according to the calculation result.