JPH06276279A - Tariff display selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently generate charging information by eliminating waste processing when the charging information is generated at an exchange side. CONSTITUTION:This system is a tariff display selection system in which plural password numbers to identify a user individually are attached on one subscriber number and the detail content of call tariff display can be selected appropriately at every password number and speech, and the system is provided with a means 41 to input the password number at a means 42 to input an instruction to desire the selection of the detail content of tariff display and a selected detail content, and a means 43 to transmit the password number and the selected detail content to a station side at a telephone terminal side, and a means 44 to register the plural password numbers in advance, a means 45 to receive the password number from the telephone terminal side and the selected detail content, a means 46 to collate a received password number with a registered password number, and a means 47 to generate the charging information by the selected detail content for the password number of the subscriber number when a collation result shows (coincidence) at the station side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information notification service for displaying a call charge to a user who has used a telephone,
In particular, the present invention relates to a charge display selection method that allows the user to appropriately select the detailed breakdown of charge display for each call.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information notification service regarding charge display is
When the user uses the telephone, notify the user of the billing information for the call, for example, billing information consisting of items such as call charge, call month / date / time, call time, calling / receiving number, and pay for the call. Is to be performed by the user. Generally, in such an information notification service, the user registers in advance in the station side which item of the charge information (for example, only the call charge and the call month and day) is to be notified, and the user calls the phone. When used, the bureau creates a charge breakdown only for the registered items and notifies the user.

[0003]

By the way, depending on who is the user who uses the telephone (for example, in the case of a telephone at a private home, it depends on who is the person in the family who makes the call) or the other party of the call. Depending on who is who, you may want to record the fee information in a detailed breakdown, or conversely, it may be as simple as the usage fee. That is, each item of the billing information preset by the user in the station is not always necessary for each call.
However, conventionally, even in the case of a call that does not require the detailed items as described above, the station side creates billing information for all of the preset items for the call. For this reason, the station ends up performing an unnecessary process for creating the charging information, and it can be said that such a process is inefficient.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to allow a plurality of users who use one telephone number to create individual billing information only for necessary items for each call. Thus, it is possible to eliminate wasteful processing when creating the billing information on the exchange side and to improve the efficiency of the billing information creation.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. In the charge display selection method of the present invention, one subscriber number is provided with a plurality of passwords for individually identifying users, and the detailed breakdown of the call charge display is appropriately selected for each call for each password. Is a possible charge display selection method, and means 41 for inputting a code number on the telephone terminal side,
A plurality of recitation numbers are provided on the station side, including means 42 for inputting an instruction to select detailed breakdown of the charge display and means for inputting the selected detail breakdown, and means 43 for transmitting the recitation number and the selected detail breakdown to the station side. Means for pre-registering, a means 45 for receiving the recitation number and the selected detailed breakdown from the telephone terminal side, a means 46 for collating the received recitation number with the registered recitation number, and the collation result is When it is "match", the means 47 for creating the charging information by the selected detailed breakdown of the recitation number of the subscriber number is provided.

In the charge display selection method of the present invention, in the above-mentioned one, a videophone is used as a telephone terminal, and when the detail display of the charge display is selected on the videophone screen, each item of the detail breakdown and that item are selected. It is possible to provide a means for displaying a charge display selection screen showing input information for displaying the required charge information during a call.

The charge display selection system of the present invention can be configured such that, in the above-mentioned system, a videophone is used as a telephone terminal, and a means for displaying a charge detail regarding a call for a certain past period is displayed on the videophone screen.

[0008]

[Function] When it is desired to create billing information for each recitation number for any item in the detailed breakdown of the charge display, the recitation number is input using the recitation number input means 41 on the telephone terminal side,
The charge display information input means 42 is used to input an instruction to select the detailed breakdown of the charge display and the selected detailed breakdown. These recitation numbers and the selected detailed contents are transmitted to the station side using the transmitting means 43.

On the station side, the receiving means 45 is used to receive the recitation number and the selected detailed breakdown from the telephone terminal side, and the collating means 46 is used to pre-register the received recitation number in the recitation number registration means 44. Matched with the registered recitation number. If the collation result is "match", the billing information creating means 47 is used to create billing information based on the selected detailed breakdown of the password of the subscriber number.

Here, when a videophone is used as the telephone terminal, a charge display selection screen showing each item of the detailed breakdown and input information for selecting it when the detailed breakdown of the charge display is selected on the videophone screen. It is also possible to display required billing information during a call as well as displaying. Further, it is also possible to display the charge details relating to the call for the past certain period on the videophone screen.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a videophone 1 and a subscriber exchange 2 which employ a charge display selection system as an embodiment of the present invention.

The videophone 1 includes a control unit 10, a recitation number input unit 11, a charge calculation unit 12, a timer unit 13, a voice processing unit 14, an image processing unit 15, an accounting information selection unit 16, and an image storage unit 17. To be done.

Here, the control unit 10 is a part that controls the entire control in the video telephone. The recitation number input unit 11 is a part for inputting and transmitting a recitation number. Timer unit 13
Is a part for measuring a call time and a call time. The charge calculation unit 12 is a part that roughly calculates the call charge on the telephone side based on the billing information held in advance. The voice processing unit 14 is a unit that processes / transmits / receives a voice signal. The image processing unit 15 processes the image signal related to the charge display selection.
This is a part for transmitting and receiving. The image storage unit 17 is a part for storing image information such as a charge display selection screen or a past charge detail screen. The billing information selection unit 16 is a unit for selecting display items while looking at the charge display selection screen.

The subscriber exchange 2 comprises a control unit 20, a storage device 21, an image processing unit 22, a password comparison unit 23, a subscriber interface unit 24, a switch unit 25, and an in-office interface unit 26.

Here, the control unit 20 is a part that controls the entire control in the exchange. The storage device 21 is a part for storing various information. The image processing unit 22 is a unit that processes / transmits / receives image signals relating to selection of charge display.
Reference numeral 23 is a part for comparing the password number received from the videophone 1 side with the password number registered in advance in the exchange to determine the match / mismatch. Subscriber interface unit 24
Is a part that serves as an interface with the subscriber line and that connects / disconnects with the switch part 25. Switch 25
Is a part for switching for exchange connection. The intra-station interface section 26 is a section that serves as an interface with the network side.

In FIG. 2, three signal lines are drawn between the video telephone 1 and the subscriber exchange 2, but during this period, they are actually connected by digital lines, and the code numbers are used. Information, charge display selection information, etc. are transmitted and received using the control channel of this digital line.

The charge display selecting operation in this embodiment system will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure on the video telephone 1 side, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure on the subscriber exchange 2 side.

First, in this embodiment system, a plurality of passwords are given to one telephone number (user's subscriber number), and the subscriber exchange 2 is preliminarily assigned with the password corresponding to the subscriber number. Register For example, one telephone number of a certain private house is “○○○ − □□□ − ××××”,
Four recitation numbers "* 1, * 2, * 3, * 4" are given to this. Then, * 1 of the recitation numbers are assigned to each individual, such as * 1 as a father, * 2 as a mother, * 3 as an older sister, * 4 as a younger brother, and so on. That is, by adding a recitation number after one telephone number, each individual in one family can be identified using (telephone number + recitation number). In the above example, ○○○ − □□□ − ×××× − * 1 ・ ・ ・ Father ○○○ − □□□ − ×××× − * 2 ・ ・ ・ Mother ○○○ − □□□ − ×××× − * 3 ・ ・ ・ Sister ○○○ − □□□ − ×××× − * 4 ・ ・ ・ Becomes a younger brother. This number information is registered in advance in the code number comparison unit 23 of the subscriber exchange 2.

When the user of the videophone 1 makes a call, he or she enters the telephone number of the other party after going off-hook.
Subsequently, the personal recitation number of the user is input by the recitation number input unit 11 (step S1). This code number is sent to the subscriber exchange 2 side together with the calling and called numbers as a setup message when calling.

On the side of the subscriber exchange 2, when the password is received (step S11), the received password comparison unit 23 compares the received phone number with the previously registered password (step S1).
2). If the received code number does not match the registered code number, it is determined that there is no corresponding code and a disconnection recovery procedure is performed (step S21) to disconnect the call. When only the telephone number of the other party is input without inputting the code number, the same processing as that of a normal call is performed, and the subscriber line is connected to the switch section 25 through the subscriber interface section 24.

When the received password is the registered password, the verification result is notified to the videophone 1 side (step S13), and the subscriber line from the videophone 1 side is sent through the subscriber interface section 24. Switch part 25
To establish a communicable state (step S14).

On the other hand, the videophone 1 side receives a code number verification notice from the subscriber exchange 2 (step S
2) If the verification notification is "match", the internal circuit is activated to make communication possible (step S3), and a path is set with the called party to establish communication (step S4,
S15).

In this communication state, the breakdown items of the charge display can be selected on the video telephone 1 side. That is, if you want to select the charge display,
Key in "0 #" (step S5). As a result, the charge display selection screen is retrieved from the image storage unit 17 and displayed on the videophone screen (step S6). This charge display selection screen is as follows, for example.

(Input key) (Breakdown of charge display) 1 # Callee number notification 2 # Number of charging units used 3 # Usage charge 4 # Time used 5 # Frequency used 6 # Charge per time unit 7 # Frequency Price per unit ・ ・ ・ ・

While looking at this screen, the user selects a charge display item desired to be displayed, and inputs the input key code (1 #, 2 # ...) Corresponding to the item (step S7). ). As a result, only the selected item is displayed on the television screen (step S8). Information on which item is selected is transmitted to the subscriber exchange 2 side.

The subscriber exchange 2 side receives the selection item information of the charge display from the video telephone 1 side (step S1).
6) Based on this item information, billing information is created only for that item (step S17), and the created data is saved (step S18). Then, based on the stored billing information, for example, a monthly bill detail of the user is created. Also, depending on the item, it may be desired to successively display even during a call on the videophone 1 side (for example, call charge), so it is determined whether or not the information is such an item (step S1).
9), if so, it notifies the videophone 1 side (step S20). Then, when the call ends, a disconnection recovery procedure is performed (steps S10 and S21) to disconnect the communication.

When the charge display is not selected on the videophone 1 side (step S5), only the call charge is displayed on a part of the videophone screen (step S9).

Further, in the video telephone 1, when it is desired to display an image of a normal calling party on the video telephone screen at the time when the charge display selection is finished, the input key, for example, "2" is used.
It is possible to return to the normal screen by keying in the code "0 #".

Further, when it is desired to display the charge details of a telephone call made during a certain period in the past, not only during a call, on the videophone screen, by inputting the code "10 #", the image is displayed. It is also possible to take out the necessary information regarding the charge details from the storage unit 17 so that the charge details can be displayed at any time.

Various modifications are possible in carrying out the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the call charge that is sequentially updated during a call is calculated on the subscriber exchange 2 side and notified to the videophone 1 to be displayed on the videophone screen. Is not limited to this, the information of the call charge is not sent to the videophone 1 side, and instead the charge calculation unit 12 is provided on the videophone 1 side.
It is also possible to display the call charge roughly calculated in step 1 on the screen.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the communication system using the video telephone has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, as a matter of course.
It may be applied to a communication system using an ordinary telephone. In that case, a correspondence table between the input keys when the charge display is selected and the charge display breakdown items is created on paper or the like instead of the videophone screen.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the code number is inputted after the off-hook, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is followed by key input "0 #" when selecting the charge display selection screen. It is also possible to input a recitation number and send it to the subscriber exchange 2 side.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to further create billing information for each individual or the like with respect to one telephone number by a code number.
Moreover, when creating the billing information, the user can select only the necessary and sufficient charge display items for each individual, so there is no wasteful processing when creating the billing information on the exchange side, and the billing information creation It is possible to improve efficiency.

Further, it becomes possible to provide the user with a more detailed service in which the charge display items are detailed or simplified for each call.

Further, when a videophone is used as a telephone terminal, it is possible to select a charge display using the videophone screen during communication and display past charge details on the videophone screen, thus improving service. It greatly contributes to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system adopting a charge display selection method as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a charge display on the videophone in the embodiment system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a charge display in the subscriber exchange in the embodiment system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Video telephone 2 Subscriber switch 10, 20 Control section 11 Recitation number input section 12 Charge calculation section 13 Timer section 14 Voice processing section 15, 22 Image processing section 16 Billing information selection section 17 Image storage section 21 Storage device 23 Recitation number comparison Part 24 Subscriber interface part 25 Switch part 26 Intra-station interface part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 7/14 7251-5C

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A charge display selection in which one subscriber number is provided with a plurality of code numbers for individually identifying users, and a detailed breakdown of the call charge display for each code number can be appropriately selected for each call. A method (41) for inputting a code number on the telephone terminal side, a means (42) for inputting an instruction to select a detailed breakdown of charge display and a selected detailed breakdown, and the code number A means (43) for transmitting the selected detailed contents to the station side, a means (44) for pre-registering the plurality of recitation numbers on the station side, a recitation number from the telephone terminal side, and a selection Means (45) for receiving a detailed breakdown, means (46) for collating the received recitation number with the registered recitation number, and a recitation number of the subscriber number when the collation result is "match". About the selected detail breakdown A charge display selection method including means (47) for creating charging information according to the above. 2. A videophone is used as a telephone terminal, and a charge display selection screen showing each item of the detailed breakdown and input information for selecting the detailed breakdown is displayed on the videophone screen when the detailed breakdown of the charge display is selected. 2. The charge display selection method according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the required billing information during a call. 3. The charge display selection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a videophone is used as a telephone terminal, and a means for displaying charge details relating to calls made during a certain past period is displayed on the videophone screen.