JPH09275458A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system provided with a charging means when a radio telephone communication system is applied to an existing exchange having no provision for radio telephone communication. SOLUTION: This system is used to obtain the result of each radio terminal equipment using each channel including an existing analog channel with an exchange station path. A terminal number, a channel number of a channel used for a speech and a line use order denoting at what order number the speech uses the channel for terminal equipments 100 making speeches for each occurrence of speeches are registered in a charging unit 500 provided to a radio base station 200 and a channel number, a channel use order and cal units of the channel for each occurrence of speeches are registered to a charging center 700. Furthermore, the information registered in the charging unit 500 in an analog form is collected by the charging center 700 periodically to make the terminal equipment number and the call units in cross reference with each other by using the channel number and the channel use order as keys.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system using a wireless terminal, and more particularly to a technique for collecting billing information when applying the wireless telephone communication system to an existing exchange that does not support wireless telephone communication. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a communication system using wireless terminals, a simplified mobile phone system known as PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) has been put into practical use. The basic configuration of the PHS is that a wireless terminal, a wireless base station connected to the wireless terminal via a wireless digital line, a concentrator connected to a plurality of wireless base stations via a line, and a concentrator and a wireless base station connected via a line. It consists of a net.

This PHS is premised on the use of a signaling system based on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) which is a kind of digital line. This signal system generally has a B channel for transmitting call information such as voice and a D channel for control information, like ISDN, and they are independent of each other.
Therefore, in the PHS, a control signal including authentication information and information necessary for billing is transmitted and received between the network and the wireless base station using the D channel of this signaling system, while the call voice is transmitted via the B channel. By transmitting and receiving, it becomes possible to transmit and receive the control signal and the call voice in parallel in time.

By the way, the infrastructure equipment near the subscriber terminal of the wired subscriber line network has the highest cost as compared with other parts, and also requires time for installation. In response to this problem, for the purpose of inexpensive and quick installation of infrastructure equipment, the wireless line used by the mobile phone will be installed in a part of the existing subscriber line near the subscriber terminal. It can be used as a line. In this existing subscriber line, one line is assigned to each subscriber, and if charges are made on a line-by-line basis, as a result, charges are made for each subscriber. Further, in this case, in consideration of minimizing the change in the equipment of the existing exchange and suppressing the cost increase, the existing analog subscriber line is used between the radio base station and the network or between the concentrator and the network. There are cases. However, since the number of subscribers accommodated under a wireless base station> (the number of wireless lines) is the characteristic of wireless lines aimed at the effect of wireless line concentration, there is a one-to-one correspondence between lines and subscribers as described above. Therefore, when the exchange side tries to charge for the subscriber, information for identifying the caller to the exchange, for example, notification of the subscriber number is required for each call. I
In SDN, since the signal line and the communication path are different, it is possible to notify the subscriber number in real time, which enables the billing to be realized in the exchange or the database connected thereto as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-217365. To be done.

[0005]

In the communication system of the present invention, the line between the exchange 1200 and the radio base station 200, and the line between the exchange 1200 and the line concentrator 300 are existing subscriber lines. It is premised that a configuration in which a number of WLL terminals, which is larger than the number of subscriber lines, is connected before the above. Therefore, the line and the fixed terminal for WLL that is a subscriber terminal do not correspond one-to-one, and the conventional exchange that calculates the call charge only for each subscriber line cannot normally charge the fixed terminal for WLL. There is the first problem.

Further, when the line accommodated in the exchange is an existing analog line as described above, there is a method of using a tone signal as a method of notifying the subscriber number, but this causes a connection delay at the time of calling. However, there is a second problem that the line connection cannot be made due to the expiration of the connection waiting timer depending on the regulations of the connection destination network and the exchange.

Further, the terminal authentication processing performed between the terminal-switch or the network, which is one of the characteristic processings at the time of connecting the wireless line, requires transmission and reception of a signal for each call in real time when the line is connected. There is a third problem that it cannot be executed for the same reason as above.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the authentication information and the billing information can be transmitted and received between the wireless base station or the concentrator and the network in real time with the call of the wireless terminal, and the signal of the existing analog subscriber line can be used. The purpose is to perform correct authentication processing and accounting processing without changing the method.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is a communication system using a wireless terminal, and even when an existing analog subscriber line is used between a wireless base station and a network or between a concentrator and a network, It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system capable of correctly charging a subscriber or authenticating a subscriber terminal.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has m (m is a natural number) first line interfaces and n (n is a natural number, n> m) second line interfaces. A concentrator and a memory that stores the order of use of the first line interface that is connected to the concentrator and that is used when the terminal connects to the network through the second line interface and the first line interface. An apparatus, a first charging means for charging a usage fee of the first line for each usage order of the line, and a usage fee of the line charged by the first charging means are stored in the storage device. A second billing unit that bills as a call charge for each terminal based on the order of use.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has a wireless base station having m (m is a natural number) wired line interfaces and n (n is a natural number, n> m) wireless line interfaces. A station, a storage device connected to the wireless base station, storing a use order of the wired line interface used when the terminal connects to the network via the wireless line interface and the wired line interface; First charging means for charging a line usage fee for each wired line usage order; and a wired line usage fee charged by the first charging means based on the usage order stored in the storage device. A second billing means for billing as a call charge for each terminal.

In order to correctly charge a subscriber even when an analog subscriber line is used, the present invention provides, for example, an exchange which is already installed and calculates a call charge for each line, and the line connected to the exchange. In a communication system including a wireless base station connected via a wireless base station and a plurality of wireless terminals connected to the wireless base station via a wireless line, the number of lines is smaller than that of the wireless terminal. And
The wireless base station is provided with a storage unit that stores the wireless terminal that used the line and the line use time as terminal use information for each call through the wireless base station and the line. The exchange is provided with storage means for storing the line use time and the call charge as line use information every time the line connected to the exchange is used,
By providing the billing center connected to the exchange with a calculating unit for calculating the call charge of the wireless terminal from the terminal use information and the line use time included in the line use information that coincide with each other, Even if a plurality of wireless terminals that do not correspond numerically are accommodated under the existing exchanges and lines, normal charging can be achieved for each wireless terminal.
More specifically, a plurality of wireless terminals, a wireless base station accommodating the wireless terminals via a wireless line, a subscriber circuit switching network accommodating the wireless base stations via a plurality of analog subscriber lines, A communication system including a charging center device connected to a subscriber circuit switching network, wherein the wireless base station comprises:
For each call using the subscriber line switching network, which is to be charged to the wireless terminal, performed by the accommodated wireless terminal via the wireless base station, and terminal identification information for identifying the terminal making the call. Means for generating and recording terminal billing information consisting of line identification information for specifying the analog subscriber line used for the call and line use order information for specifying the order of using the analog subscriber line; and the subscriber. Means for transmitting the recorded terminal billing information to the billing center device via the subscriber line switching network in response to a transmission request from the billing center device received via the circuit switching network,
The billing center device includes an analog subscriber used for the call for each call made by the radio terminal via the radio base station and to be charged to the radio terminal using the subscriber line switching network. A line consisting of line identification information for specifying a line, line use order information for specifying the order in which the analog subscriber line is used, and frequency information for specifying a frequency indicating the degree of use of the subscriber circuit switching network in the call. Means for generating and recording charging information, means for transmitting the transmission request to the wireless base station via the subscriber circuit switching network, and means for collecting terminal charging information sent from the wireless base station,
The collected terminal billing information is collated with the recorded line billing information, and when the combination of the line identification information and the line usage order information included in each of the information matches, the terminal identification information included in the terminal billing information and the terminal concerned. Means for generating subscriber billing information associated with call frequency information included in line billing information for the call to be billed to the wireless terminal made by the terminal identified by the identification information. To provide a communication system.

Further, in order to correctly authenticate the wireless terminal in real time even when the analog subscriber line is used, the present invention exchanges a call of the wireless terminal device with a plurality of wireless terminals and the analog subscriber line, for example. A subscriber line switching network, a relay device connected to the subscriber line switching network by the analog subscriber line, and relaying a call between the analog subscriber line and the wireless terminal, and the subscriber line switching A communication system including an operation center device connected to a network, wherein the relay device has terminal numbers of one or more terminals received from the operation center device via the subscriber line switching network and the terminal numbers. A means for storing the associated authentication information and a means for storing the information when the wireless terminal makes a call using the subscriber line switching network via the relay device. Using the authentication information associated with the terminal number of the wireless terminal, to provide a communication system characterized by means for performing authentication of the wireless terminal is provided.

According to the communication system as described above, the authentication information and the billing information are transferred between the wireless base station or the concentrator and the network.
Even if the call from the wireless terminal is not transmitted / received in real time, the correct authentication process and billing process can be performed without changing the signal system of the existing analog subscriber line.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment has a plurality of digital wireless subscriber lines (Wireless Local Loop: hereinafter, referred to as "WL").
L ”), a plurality of wireless base stations 200 that accommodate the terminals via WLL, and a concentrator 3 that accommodates the plurality of wireless base stations 200 via a digital wired line.
00 and connect to the base station 200 or the concentrator 300,
Alternatively, the accommodated WLL service control point (hereinafter referred to as “SCP”).

) 400 and charging unit 500, and existing public communication network (hereinafter referred to as "PSTN") 1000
Location information database (hereinafter referred to as "HLR")
And a billing center 700 and an operation center (hereinafter referred to as “OPC”).

Switch 1200-radio base station 200
And between the exchange 1200 and the concentrator 300,
It is an existing subscriber line. Further, the present invention is configured to connect more WLL terminals than the number of subscriber lines. Therefore, it is premised that the lines and the WLL fixed terminals, which are subscriber terminals, do not correspond one-to-one.
With such a configuration, when a fixed terminal for WLL is called or called, communication is enabled by selecting and allocating an empty subscriber line every time. More specifically, the line A (for example, in FIG.
It is possible that the line number 4123 of 0 is used and the line B (for example, the line number 5982 of FIG. 10) is used for the second communication. In other words, the configuration is such that a few subscriber lines are shared by a plurality of subscribers. The existing exchange 1200 is of a type that charges only for each line.

In order to charge normally under the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to add the following structure. That is, the SCP 400 installed in the wireless base station 250 or the concentrator 400, the charging unit 500, and the PST.
Proper charging is possible by providing a charging center 700, a position information database 600, an operation center, etc. installed on the network side such as N and exchanging authentication information and charging information among them. Here, as shown in the figure, SC
Concentrator 300 including P400 and charging unit 500
The SCP 400 and the charging unit 500 are not provided in the wireless base station 200 connected to the. In addition, SCP400,
The line base station 200 not connected to the line concentrator 300 including the charging unit 500 is provided with the SCP 400 and the charging unit 500.

The PSTN 1000 includes one or a plurality of exchanges. FIG. 1 shows one exchange 1
The PSTN 1000 is represented by 200 and the communication system according to the present embodiment is shown. The radio base station 200 or the concentrator 300 provided with the SCP 400 and the charging unit 500 is connected to the switching center 1200 in the PSTN 1000 by an analog wired line. Here, the exchange records, for each call, the line number used, the line use sequence number indicating the number of use of the line used by the call, and the call frequency. Alternatively, if the information is not recorded, the information is notified to the billing center after the call is completed.

Now, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, WLL
Terminal 100 and other WLL terminals and PSTN 1000
Communication with the terminal 1100 connected to the WLL15
0, the radio base station 200 (or the radio base station 200 and the line concentrator 300), and the PSTN 1000. In the present embodiment, as will be described later in detail, the WLL SCP 400 performs the terminal authentication process of the WLL terminal 100, and the charging unit 500 and the charging center 70.
0 collaborates to collect and aggregate subscriber billing information, and HLR 600 uses WLL for call routing.
The OPC 800 holds the position information of the mobile terminal and performs various controls regarding registration of subscriber information when the subscriber moves.

Next, the radio base station 200 according to the present embodiment.
Will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the SCP 400 and the charging unit 500.
2 shows a configuration of a radio base station connected to the.

As shown in the figure, the radio base station 200 according to this embodiment has an antenna 201 and a WLL through the antenna 201.
A signal transmission / reception control unit 202 for controlling signal transmission / reception with the mobile terminal 100, a base station-SCP interface unit 204, a base station-charging unit interface unit 205 for connecting to the SCP 400, the charging unit 500, the concentrator 300 or the switching center 1200. A base station-network interface unit 206, a memory 207 that holds various programs such as an OS and call control processing, and a processor 203 that starts and executes these programs.

In the memory 207, a radio base station processing request identification program 210 for detecting and identifying a processing request to the base station from the network side, and a SCP4 by a request from the network side.
00, an authentication information change processing program 230 for instructing deletion and registration of authentication information, a charging information transmission processing program 250 for requesting terminal charging information to the charging unit 500 in response to a request from the network side, A network-base station line connection / disconnection program 270 that controls connection and disconnection of a call between the network side and the wireless base station, an authentication processing program 280 that performs terminal authentication processing in cooperation with the SCP 400, and a wireless terminal 100 Call control program 290 for controlling calls
A billing information registration processing program 296 for requesting the billing unit 500 to register terminal billing information and an OS 295 which is an operating system for utilizing these programs are stored.

As shown in FIG. 3, the radio base station processing request identification program 210 is activated by an incoming call addressed to the radio base station from the network side (211). After that, the radio base station 20
The processor 301 of 0 performs the following operations according to the radio base station processing request identification program 210.

That is, first, in response to an incoming call, a line connection process between the network side and the radio base station 200 is executed (21
2) After the line is connected, the processing request (message) shifts to a waiting state (213), and when the authentication information registration or deletion processing request from the operation center 800 is received, the authentication information change processing is performed (214), When a billing information transmission processing request from the billing center 700 is received,
A billing information transmission process is performed (215). After that, if there is a line disconnection request from the network side, the line disconnection process (217) is performed to end this process, and if there is no request, the process returns to the process request standby 213. Waiting for processing request (213)
When the processing request is not received for a certain period of time, the line disconnection processing (217) is performed, and the processing is finished. Here, the authentication information deletion processing request from the operation center 800 includes the identification number of the terminal requesting deletion. Further, the authentication information registration processing request from the operation center 800 includes the terminal number which is the identification number of the terminal requesting the registration and the authentication data for authenticating the terminal.

Signals to and from the network are transmitted and received on the analog wired line in the form of a predetermined analog modulated signal.

Here, the line connection process (212) and the line disconnection process (217) are processes for activating the base station-network line connection / disconnection program 270 for connecting and disconnecting the line with the network. The authentication information change processing (214) is processing for starting the authentication information change processing program 230,
The billing information transmission process (215) is a process for activating the billing information transmission process program 250.

When the authentication information change processing program 230 is activated by the authentication information change processing (214), the processor 201 of the radio base station performs the following processing according to the authentication information change processing program 230. That is,
As shown in FIG. 4, first, the operation center 800
The processing request received from the server identifies whether it is an authentication information deletion processing request or an authentication information registration processing request (231), and if it is an authentication information deletion processing request, it instructs the SCP 400 to delete the authentication information. A signal is transmitted from the operation center 700 together with the terminal number received together with the authentication information deletion processing request (232), a signal indicating completion or failure of the authentication information deletion from the SCP 400 is waited for (233), and the authentication information deletion completion signal is received. In this case, the completion of the deletion of the authentication information is notified, and when the failure of the authentication information is received, the failure of the deletion of the authentication information is notified to the operation center 800 (234 and 235), and this processing is ended (249).

On the other hand, in the case of the authentication information registration processing request, the authentication information registration signal for instructing the SCP 400 to register the authentication information is received from the operation center 800 together with the authentication information registration processing request together with the terminal number and the authentication data. It transmits (242), and waits for a signal indicating completion or failure of deletion of the authentication information from the SCP (243),
When the authentication information registration completion signal is received, the operation center 800 is notified of the completion of the authentication information registration, and when the authentication information failure is received, the operation center 800 is notified of the failure of the authentication information registration (244,
245), this processing ends (249).

When the charging information transmission processing program 215 activates the charging information transmission processing program 250, the processor 201 of the wireless base station performs the following processing in accordance with the charging information transmission processing program 250.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the charging unit 50
0, a billing information request signal is transmitted to 0 (251), the process waits for a response from the billing unit, and terminal billing information is received from the billing unit (251).
A subscriber information response signal including terminal billing information from the billing unit is transmitted to the addressee (253), and this processing ends (25).
9).

On the other hand, the call control program 290 is used by the terminal 1
It is activated by a call from 00 or an incoming call from the network to the terminal.
The process of connecting the WLL between 00 and 00 to the wired line on the network side is performed. Further, the call control program activates the authentication processing program 280 when the call is made from the terminal 100 and performs the authentication processing, and when the call to be charged to the terminal accommodated in the wireless base station 200 is established, the charging information registration processing program. 29
The charging information registration process for activating 6 is performed.

In the authentication processing, the authentication processing program sends an authentication data request signal to the SCP4 together with the terminal number of the calling terminal or the terminal number of the called terminal included in the call setting request of the terminal.
Request to 00. Then, using the authentication data received from the SCP 400, authentication processing is performed between itself and the calling or called terminal connected via WLL. If SC
When P400 notifies that the authentication number of the terminal with the terminal number is not registered, the call is disconnected.

In the billing information registration process, when the calling-side billing method is adopted, when a call is established between the terminal connected to the wireless base station 200 via WLL and the called terminal, the call concerned is issued. A billing information registration signal is sent to the billing unit 500 together with the terminal number of the call terminal and the line number of the network side line used for the call. When the called-side charging method is adopted, when a call is established between the called terminal connected to the wireless base station 200 via WLL and the called terminal, the terminal number of the called terminal is set. The radio base station 200 including the SCP 400 and the billing unit 500 has been described so far as the line number of the network side line used for the call and the billing information registration signal together with the line number are sent to the billing unit 500.

The SCP 400 and the charging unit 500
In the case of a wireless base station that does not include the base station, the base station-SCP interface unit 204 and the base station-in the configuration shown in FIG.
Accounting unit interface unit 205, authentication information change processing program 230, and accounting information transmission processing program 2
50, the charging information registration processing program 296, and the authentication processing program 280 may be omitted. Further, the call control program 290 does not perform the charging information registration process and the authentication process.

Next, the SCP 400 will be described. Here, the SCP 400 connected to the wireless base station 200 is taken as an example to describe the details.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the SCP 400.

As shown in the figure, the SCP 400 includes a processor 401 and a memory 402 for storing various programs.
And a database 403 holding authentication information used for authentication processing of subscriber terminals, and an SCP-base station I / F unit 404 for connecting to the radio base station 200.

Here, the memory 402 stores in the database 4 in accordance with an instruction from the base transceiver station transmission / reception program 470 for controlling transmission / reception of signals to / from the radio base station.
03 Authentication information processing program 480 for deleting and registering internal authentication information, transmission to wireless base station, and OS 4
It stores 90.

Further, the database 403 stores entries for a plurality of terminals, each of which has a pair of the terminal number 410 (410a-) and the authentication data 420 (420a-) of the terminal corresponding to the terminal number.

In such a configuration, when the processor 401 of the SCP 400 receives the authentication information deletion signal from the radio base station 200, it starts the authentication information processing program 480 and creates an entry including the terminal number sent together with the authentication information signal. The database 403 is searched, and the searched entry is deleted from the database 403. Also, CP
Upon receiving the authentication information registration signal from the wireless base station 200, the processor 401 of 400 activates the authentication information processing program 480, and stores the entry including the terminal number and the authentication data sent together with the authentication information registration signal in the database 40.
Register to 3. If an entry including the terminal number 410 to be registered already exists in the database 403, only the authentication data 420 of the entry is updated to the authentication data received together with the authentication information registration signal.

Also, the processor 401 of the SCP 400
Receives an authentication data request signal from the wireless base station,
Start the authentication information processing program 480, and according to it,
The database 403 is searched for an entry including the terminal number received together with the authentication data request signal, and if it exists, the authentication data in the searched entry is transmitted to the radio base station 200. If it does not exist, the fact is transmitted to the radio base station 200.

Although the SCP 400 connected to the radio base station 200 has been described above, the concentrator 300
The only difference of the SCP 400 connected to the above from the above description is that the concentrator 300 replaces the wireless base station 200 as the partner that transmits and receives various information and signals to and from the SCP 400. The SCP 400 has been described above.

Next, the charging unit 500 will be described. Here, the charging unit connected to the wireless base station 200 will be described as an example in detail.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of the charging unit 500.

The charging unit 500 includes a processor 501.
, A memory 502 for storing various programs, and a database 503 for holding call information of the subscriber terminal 100.
And a charging unit for connecting to the radio base station 200-
It is composed of a base station I / F unit 504.

Here, in the memory 502, the transmission program 5 to the radio base station for controlling the signal with the radio base station.
70, writing terminal charging information to the database 503 according to the charging information registration request signal from the wireless base station 200, and terminal charging information from the database 503 in response to the charging information request signal from the wireless base station 200. It stores a billing information processing program 580 for reading out and transmitting to the wireless base station 200, and an OS 590.

The database 503 has a terminal number 510.
(510a-), for each call made by the terminal having the terminal number, a line number 520 from the radio base station 200 to the switching center 1200 used during the call and a line indicating the order in which the same line was used by the same terminal. The usage order number 530 is stored as terminal billing information. Here, the database 503 includes a terminal number 510, a line number 520, and a line use sequence number 530.
The reason for memorizing is that, as mentioned at the beginning, the line and the subscriber do not correspond one-to-one, and depending on the time of use, which subscriber uses which line is dynamically assigned. It is a big burden on me. That is, as will be described later, by collating these three pieces of information with the billing information on the network side that holds the frequency of use for each line,
As a result, each WLL subscriber is charged. Although illustration is omitted, the number of times the line has been used so far is stored as line use information for each network side line accommodated by the wireless base station.

Processor 501 of charging unit 500
Upon receiving the billing information registration signal, the terminal number, and the line number, responds to the reception by the wireless base station, activates the billing information processing program 580, refers to the line usage information in the database 503 according to the program, and then the relevant line The number of times the line of the number has been used up to now is calculated, and the number of times obtained by adding 1 to the calculated number of times is taken as the new number of times of use. Then, the line number and the number of times of use of the line up to now in a database (not shown) that holds the number of uses of each line are updated to the new number of uses. In addition, for the received terminal number, a set of the received line number and new usage count is stored in the database 503.
Register with. The number of new uses is the line use sequence number 530 in the communication.

Also, the processor 5 of the charging unit 500
When 01 receives the billing information request signal, 01 starts the billing information processing program 580, and according to the program,
All the terminal billing information in the database 503 is read out and transmitted to the wireless base station, and when completed, the database 503
Delete the terminal billing information sent from. If the storage capacity allows, the terminal billing information may be retained without being deleted and a transmission end flag may be set.

Although the charging unit 500 connected to the wireless base station 200 has been described above, the charging unit 500 connected to the concentrator 300 is different from the above description in that the charging unit 500 and various information and signals are transmitted. The transmitting and receiving party replaces the wireless base station 200 and the line concentrator 3
It is only 00.

The charging unit 500 has been described above.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the concentrator 300 connected to the SCP 400 and the charging unit 500.

The concentrator 300 has an SC
P400, billing unit 500, concentrator-SCP interface unit 309 for connecting to the exchange 1200.
Concentrator-billing unit interface unit 308, concentrator-network interface unit 306, line controller 306 for controlling the network side line, base station side controller 302 for controlling the radio base station side line, and network A circuit switching unit 304 that performs circuit switching between the side circuit and the wireless base station side circuit, and a memory 3 that holds various programs executed by the processor 301.
05 and a processor 301 that starts and executes these programs.

In the memory 305, the concentrator 3 is installed from the network side.
Concentrator processing request identification program that detects and identifies a processing request for 00 and SCP4 by a request from the network side.
00 for deleting and registering authentication information, a charging information transmission processing program for requesting terminal charging information to the charging unit 500 in response to a request from the network side, and a network side Network-concentrator line connection / disconnection program for controlling connection / disconnection of a call between the network and the concentrator 300, an authentication processing program for performing terminal authentication processing in cooperation with the SCP 400, and a wireless communication via the wireless base station 200. A call control program for controlling calls of the terminal 100, a charging information registration process for requesting the charging unit 500 to register terminal charging information, and an operating system (OS) for using these programs are stored. There is. Here, the storage device may be a single storage device, or may be provided separately for program storage, work, etc.

Here, the concentrator processing request identification program of the concentrator 300, the authentication information change processing program, the network-
The concentrator line connection / disconnection program, the authentication processing program, the billing information registration processing program, and the OS are the wireless base station processing request identification program 2 in the wireless base station described above.
10, the authentication information change processing program 230, the accounting information transmission processing program, the network-base station line connection / disconnection program 270, the authentication processing program 280, the accounting information registration processing program 296, and the OS 295, respectively.
It is a program for realizing the same processing as the processing by the corresponding program in the concentrator 300.

The call control program of the concentrator controls the call for the network side line and each line of the radio base station side, and this control includes the line switching control in the line switching unit 304. .

The concentrator has been described above.

Next, the charging center 700 will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the structure of the charging center 700.

As shown in the figure, the billing center 700 is composed of a billing center-switching interface interface 707 for connecting to a switch 1200 constituting the network 1000, a database 710, a memory 706 storing various programs, and a processor 705. To be done.

The memory 706 stores an exchange exchange transmission / reception program 721, a subscriber billing processing program 722, an OS 723, etc., which are used for transmitting / receiving information to / from the exchange exchange.

The processor 705 performs the following processing according to each program stored in the memory 706.

Database 710 in charging center 700
By the processing of the processor 722 according to the subscriber billing processing program 722, for each subscriber line managed by the billing center 700, the subscriber line is used based on the notification from the switching center 1200. The line charge information database 701 in which the call frequency (the charge is calculated separately from the used frequency) or the charge data is stored is stored. In short, this line charge information database holds the usage charge for each line. As in the conventional case, if the subscribers and the lines are in one-to-one correspondence, it is possible to charge by using only this database. However, when installing a wireless base station, installing a line concentrator and further installing a wireless base station at the end of an existing subscriber line that has been charged on a line-by-line basis, and installing telephone equipment at low cost, Has
Unless the following devices are added, it is not possible to charge for each WLL terminal. The database 710 includes a processor 70 according to the subscriber billing processing program 722.
By the processing of 5, the terminal charging information database 703 describing the terminal charging information 703 collected from each charging unit 500 is stored. Further, on the database 710, by the processing of the processor 705 in accordance with the subscriber charging processing program 722, the line used by each subscriber, the frequency of use, and the like are stored in the above-mentioned line charging information database 701 and terminals. A subscriber billing information database 702 created based on the contents of the billing information database 703 is stored.

Here, the line billing information database 701
For example, as shown in FIG.
For 0, hold the line use sequence number 720 of the same line,
The frequency 730 (call charge for a call using the same line) for each line use sequence number on the same line is stored.

Also, a subscriber billing information database 702
Is, for example, as shown in FIG.
0, the used line number 750, the line use sequence number 760, and the frequency 770 when each line is used are stored.

Next, the processing performed by the processor 705 according to the subscriber billing processing program 722 in order to create such a subscriber billing information database 702 will be described.

FIG. 12 shows the processing procedure of this processing.

In this process, a call is sequentially made to the radio base station 200 (or the line device 300) having the charging unit 500 via the exchange 1200 to connect the line (781). If the line is connected, the above-mentioned billing information transmission processing request is transmitted (782). Then, in response to this, if terminal charging information is sent as a subscriber information response signal from the wireless base station 200 (or line device 300) equipped with the charging unit 500, this is received (783), and the terminal is sent. It writes to the charging information database 703 (784) and disconnects the line (785).

Then, the terminal billing information database 702
The information of the terminal number, the used line number, and the line use order is taken out, and the subscriber charging information database 71 shown in FIG.
The subscriber number 740 of 0, the used line number 750, and the line use order number are written.

Then, for each subscriber number 740 described in the subscriber billing information database 710 in sequence, the used line number 750 and the line use order associated with this subscriber number in the subscriber billing information database 710. Line charge information database 7 for each set of number 760
01, the line number 750 and the line use sequence number 72 that match the same line number 750 and use sequence number 760 from this group
An entry including a set of 0s is searched, the frequency 730 in the searched entry is extracted (786), and this frequency corresponds to the set of the same-use line 750 and the same-line use order number 760 of the subscriber billing information database 710. The frequency is written as 770 (783), and the process is ended (784). The procedure for creating the database shown in FIG. 11 from the contents of the database shown in FIGS. 10 and 7 will be specifically described. Now, considering the subscriber number 3786-9485, the database 7 created from the database 503 of FIG.
Based on 03, it can be seen that the subscriber number 3786-9485 used the line number 4123 for the second time. On the other hand, referring to the database 701, the line number 4
The call frequency of the person who used 123 for the second time is specified to be 65. From the above, the database 702 is sequentially created.

By the above processing, the subscriber billing information database 710 shown in FIG. 11 is created. Then, when totaling, the total number of frequencies associated with each subscriber number in the subscriber billing information database 710 is obtained as billing information for this subscriber number.

The charging center 700 has been described above.

The communication sequence realized by the communication system described above is shown below.

FIG. 13 shows a sequence when a call is started from a certain terminal 100 (100a) to the terminal 100 (100b).

As shown, WPS1 (terminal 100
a) establishes WLL with CS1 (radio base station 200a) (900), WPS1 sends a call setup message 901 from CS1, and CS1 returns a call setup acceptance message 902 to WPS1 and at the same time WSCP1
Authentication processing request signal 903 to (SCP 400a for WWL)
To send authentication data to WPS1 and send WPS1
After the terminal authentication processing 904 of CS1 is completed, CS1 sends PST
Call setup process 90 with N1000 (switching center 1200)
Perform Step 6.

The switching center 1200 inquires the HLR1 of the location information of the destination WPS2 (the base station accommodating the WPS2 or the routing number of the exchange station number accommodating the WPS2) in the location information request message 907, and the HLR1 transmits the WPS to the WPS2.
The position information of No. 2 is returned in the position information response message 908. With reference to this position information, the switching center 1200 determines that the W
The call setup process 909 is performed on the CS2 accommodating the PS2, and the CS2 accommodates the plurality of WLL terminals 100b, 10
Incoming message 9 for 0c (WSP2, WPS3)
Send 10.

WPS2 receives an incoming call message 910 addressed to itself.
Is received, the WLL link establishment 900 with CS2 is received.
Then, the incoming call acceptance message 911 is returned. CS2
Performs a call setting process for WPS2 (sending and receiving a call setting message 901 and a call setting acceptance message 902), and W
An authentication data request 903 of WPS2 is transmitted to SCP2, authentication data is obtained, and authentication processing is performed. When the authentication process is completed, the WPS2 sends the W
The paging message 912 addressed to PS1 is transmitted, and the response message 915 addressed to WPS1 is transmitted simultaneously with the off-hook 919 in WPS2, and CS2 relays this.

After WPS1 receives this message, the communication line is set to WPS1-WPS2 and communication (communication) is possible.

Next, FIG. 14 shows the terminal 100 (100a).
Has been moved to another wireless base station 200 due to reasons such as the moving of subscribers.
When moving to the subordinate of (200b), the authentication data of the same terminal is sent to the SCP 40 of the movement-destination base station 200 (200b).
The sequence at the time of moving to 0 (400b) is shown.

In this sequence, first. Subscriber OP
For C800, WPS1 (WLL terminal 100a)
930 of the destination of the move. OPC800 has been W
CS1 accommodating PS1 (source wireless base station 200
The line connection processing 931 is performed for a). CS1 is OP
The wireless base station processing request identification processing 210 is activated by detecting an incoming call addressed to itself from the C800. After connecting the OPC-CS1 line, the OPC sends an authentication information deletion processing request 933 requesting deletion of the WPS1 authentication information to CS2, and C
S2 sends the authentication information deletion signal 934 to WSCP1 (the SCP 400a for the source WLL) holding the authentication information of WPS1, deletes the authentication information of WPS1 in WSCP1, and the authentication information including the same authentication information for CS1. The deletion completion 935 is returned, and the CS1 returns the authentication information deletion completion 936 to the OPC.

Thereafter, the line disconnection process 93 of the OPC-CS1 is performed.
Perform Step 7.

Subsequently, the OPC connects the CS2 (destination base station 200b), which will accommodate the WPS1 that has moved up, to the line connection 931 and registers the authentication information including the authentication information (terminal number, authentication data) of the WPS1. The processing request 938 is transmitted to CS2. CS2 will hold the authentication information of WPS1 after the movement WSCP2 (S for the destination WLL)
The authentication information registration signal 939 is transmitted to the CP 400b). WSCP2 returns the authentication information registration completion message 940 to CS2 after performing the registration processing of the authentication information of WPS1. CS2 similarly sends a certificate information registration completion message to OPC, and the transfer of the authentication information of WPS1 is completed.

FIG. 15 shows a sequence relating to charging when the terminal (100a) is the calling terminal and the calling charging method is used.

Switching center 1200 in PSTN 1000 accommodating CS1 (radio base station 200a accommodating the terminal for WLL on the calling side) receives CC1 (charging center 800) after receiving a response 916 to the call from WPS 100a from the called terminal.
Notify the start of billing 969. CC1 performs billing processing for the line used by CS1. Specifically, first, the line number and line use order of this line are registered in the line charging information database 701. Then, after the line is disconnected after the call is finished, the switching center 1200 notifies the CC1 of the charge end and the frequency, and when CC1 receives the notification, the line number registered in the line charge information database 701 and the line use order are first registered. The frequency is registered based on the entry, and the charging process ends.

On the other hand, CS1 receives the response 970 from the called terminal and then connects to CU1 (charging unit 50) connected to CS1.
0a), the billing information registration signal 960 is transmitted, and the CU1 receiving this signal responds to the reception 961 and registers the terminal billing information. As described above, the charging information registration signal 960 and the line number 520 used for the line connection of the CS1-PSTN 1000, the terminal number 510 of the WPS1 and the line use sequence number are sent to the CU1.

The billing center (CC1) makes a line connection 931 with each radio base station CS1 equipped with the billing unit 500 periodically or in response to an operator's instruction.
The billing information transmission processing request 965 is sent to CS1 using the same line.
Send to CS1 sends a charging information request signal 966 to CU1, and CU1 sends terminal charging information 96 to WPS1.
Send 7. CS1 transfers the terminal billing information to CC1, and C
The line of S1-CC1 is disconnected (937). CC1 collates the received terminal billing information or the terminal billing information database 703 created from the received terminal billing information with the held line billing information database 701,
The charging frequency of each WPS 1 is calculated, and the subscriber charging information database 702 is created and held.

The embodiment of the communication system according to the present invention has been described above.

In the above embodiment, the charging unit 50 is used.
0, the terminal number, the line number, and the line use order are registered for each call, and the billing center 700 registers the line number, the line use order, and the frequency for each call, and the terminal number is used with the line number and the line use order as keys. However, other information may be used as a key for associating the terminal number with the frequency. For example, instead of the line usage order, the time when the line is used is registered, and the line number is registered. The terminal number and the frequency may be associated with each other by using the line usage time as a key. In that case, even if each database is associated with the terminal number or the line number and the call start time (and the call end time) is recorded, the charging is similarly achieved.

In the above embodiment, the charging center 7
In response to the request from 00, the charging unit 500 transmitted to the charging center 700 all the charging information stored in the database 503 at one time.
Only the transmission of the charging information of the terminal number of the terminal for which the charging frequency is desired is requested, the charging unit 500 sends only the charging information of the requested terminal number to the charging center 700, and the charging center 700 displays the frequency corresponding to the terminal number. You may ask.

Further, in the above embodiments, the charging unit and the WLL SCP are provided as a device separate from the wireless base station and the line concentrator, but the wireless base station including the functions of the charging unit and the WLL SCP is You may make it comprise a concentrator.

In the above embodiment, the charging unit 5
The current value of the line use order number used in 00 is reset to 0 when all the charging information is transmitted to the charging center 7000, and the current value of the line use order number used in the charging center 700 is Center 700
At 0, it may be reset to 0 when the frequency of each terminal number is obtained.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in a communication system using a wireless terminal, even when an existing analog subscriber line is used between the wireless base station and the network or between the concentrator and the network. It is possible to provide a communication system capable of correctly charging a subscriber or authenticating a subscriber terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless base station.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a wireless base station processing request identification program.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an authentication information change processing program.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a billing information transmission processing program.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of SCP.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a charging unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a line concentrator.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a charging center.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of a line charging information database.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the contents of a subscriber charging information database.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a terminal billing processing program.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a communication sequence relating to terminal authentication.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a communication sequence relating to a movement process of authentication data accompanying movement of a terminal.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a communication sequence regarding charging.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: WLL terminal, 150: WLL, 200: wireless base station, 250: subscriber line, 300: concentrator, 40
0: SCP for WLL, 500: Billing unit, 600:
Location information database, 700: Billing center, 701:
Line billing information database, 702: Subscriber billing information database, 800: Operation center, 900:
Message and message sending / receiving process, 1000: P
STN, 1200: Exchange

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumitaka Ito 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Stock company Hitachi multimedia system development headquarters (72) Inventor Ken Mori Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 216 Stock company Hitachi Ltd. Information & Communication Division

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A communication system for connecting a terminal and a network, comprising m (m is a natural number) first line interfaces and n (n is a natural number, n> m) second line interfaces. And a use order of the first line interface which is connected to the line collector and which is used when the terminal is connected to the network through the second line interface and the first line interface. And a first charging means for charging the usage fee of the first line for each usage order of the line, and the storage apparatus for charging the usage fee of the line charged by the first charging means. A second billing unit that bills as a call charge for each terminal based on the order of use stored in the communication system. 2. A communication system for connecting a terminal and a network, wherein m (m is a natural number) wired line interfaces and n
A wireless base station having a wireless line interface of a book (n is a natural number, n> m), and the terminal is connected to the network via the wireless line interface and the wired line interface. A storage device for storing the order of use of the first wired line interface used at that time; a first charging means for charging the usage fee of the wired line for each order of use of the wired line; and the first charging means. A second billing means for billing a billing charge of the wired line as a call charge for each terminal based on the usage order stored in the storage device. 3. A plurality of wireless terminals, a wireless base station accommodating the wireless terminals via a wireless line, a subscriber line switching network accommodating the wireless base stations via a plurality of analog subscriber lines, and A communication system including a charging center device connected to a subscriber circuit switching network, wherein the wireless base station is charged by the accommodated wireless terminal via the wireless base station. , For each call using the subscriber line switching network, terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that made the call, line identification information that identifies the analog subscriber line used for the call, and a call that identifies the call Means for generating and recording local information consisting of identification information, and the recorded call information in response to the transmission request from the billing center device received through the subscriber line switching network. Means for sending to the charging center device via the wireless base station, the charging center device using the subscriber line switching network to be charged to the wireless terminal. For each call, the line identification information that identifies the analog subscriber line used for the call, the call identification information that identifies the call, and the frequency that indicates the degree of use of the subscriber circuit switching network in the call are identified. Means for generating and recording center information consisting of frequency information, means for transmitting the transmission request to the radio base station via the subscriber circuit switching network, and collecting local information sent from the radio base station And collate the collected local information with the recorded center information,
The terminal identification information, and means for generating billing information associated with call frequency information about the call made by the terminal specified by the terminal identification information and to be billed to the wireless terminal. Communication system. 4. A plurality of wireless terminals, a plurality of wireless base stations accommodating the wireless terminals via a wireless line, a node device accommodating the wireless base stations via a digital line, and a plurality of analogs of the node device. A communication system including a subscriber circuit switching network accommodated via a subscriber line and a billing center device connected to the subscriber circuit switching network, wherein the node device is a radio accommodated by a radio base station accommodated therein. For each call made through the node device by the terminal, which is to be charged to the wireless terminal and uses the subscriber circuit switching network, terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that made the call and used for the call Means for generating and recording local information comprising line identification information for identifying the analog subscriber line and the call identification information for identifying the call, and before receiving via the subscriber line switching network. A means for transmitting the recorded call information to the charging center device via the subscriber line switching network in response to a transmission request from the charging center device, wherein the charging center device has a wireless terminal via the node device. For each call using the subscriber line switching network that should be charged to the wireless terminal, the line identification information for specifying the analog subscriber line used for the call and the call for specifying the call Means for generating and recording center information comprising identification information and frequency information specifying frequency indicating the degree of use of the subscriber circuit switching network in the call, and the means for recording the center information in the node device via the subscriber circuit switching network. Means for transmitting a transmission request, collecting the local information sent from the wireless base station, and collating the collected local information with the recorded center information,
The terminal identification information, and means for generating billing information associated with call frequency information about the call made by the terminal specified by the terminal identification information and to be billed to the wireless terminal. Communication system. 5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the node device is a concentrator device accommodating a plurality of radio base stations via a digital line. 6. A radio base station for accommodating a radio terminal via a radio line and connecting to a subscriber circuit switching network via an analog subscriber line, wherein the radio terminal accommodated by the radio base station is the radio base station. For each call using the subscriber circuit switching network that should be charged to the wireless terminal made through the station, terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that made the call and analog subscription used for the call Means for generating and recording local information, which is composed of line identification information for identifying the subscriber line and call identification information for identifying the call, and a predetermined transmission request received by the radio base station via the subscriber line switching network. Accordingly, the wireless base station comprises means for transmitting the recorded call information from the wireless base station to the sender of the transmission request via the subscriber circuit switching network. 7. A node device for accommodating a wireless base station accommodating a wireless terminal via a wireless line and connecting to a subscriber line switching network via an analog subscriber line, wherein the accommodated wireless base station is accommodated. For each call using the subscriber circuit switching network that should be charged to the wireless terminal performed by the wireless terminal via the node device, the terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that made the call and the call Means for generating and recording local information comprising line identification information for identifying the used analog subscriber line and call identification information for identifying the call; and a predetermined unit received by the node device via the subscriber line switching network. And a means for transmitting the call information recorded at the sender of the transmission request from the node device via the subscriber circuit switching network in response to the transmission request. 8. A billing center device connected to a subscriber circuit switching network for exchanging a call of a wireless terminal device to an analog subscriber line, wherein the subscription is made by the wireless terminal and should be charged to the wireless terminal. For each call using the private line switching network, line identification information that identifies the analog subscriber line used for the call, call identification information that identifies the call, and use of the subscriber line switching network in the call. A means for generating and recording center information composed of frequency information specifying frequency indicating the degree, and a measure for each call made by the wireless terminal and charged to the wireless terminal using the subscriber circuit switching network. Local information that includes terminal identification information that identifies the terminal that made the call, line identification information that identifies the analog subscriber line used for the call, and call identification information that identifies the call is added. User via the line switching network, collates the means for collecting from the relay apparatus to be connected to the subscriber line exchange network by the analog subscriber line, the gathered center information recorded with the local information,
The terminal identification information, and means for generating billing information associated with call frequency information about the call made by the terminal specified by the terminal identification information and to be billed to the wireless terminal. Charging center device to be used. 9. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the call identification information included in the local information and the center information is a call specified by the call identification information is an analog line used by the call. , A communication system characterized by being information indicating what number of calls was used. 10. A plurality of wireless terminals, a subscriber circuit switching network for switching a call of a wireless terminal device to an analog subscriber line, and an analog subscriber connected to the subscriber circuit switching network by the analog subscriber line. A communication system including a relay device for relaying a call between a line and the wireless terminal, and an operation center device connected to the subscriber circuit switching network, wherein the relay device includes the subscriber circuit switching A means for storing terminal numbers of one or more terminals received from the operation center apparatus via the network and authentication information associated with the terminal numbers; and a wireless terminal via the relay apparatus for the subscriber line switching network. Means for authenticating the wireless terminal by using the stored authentication information associated with the stored terminal number of the wireless terminal when making a call using Communication system to be butterflies. 11. A terminal identification device provided in a relay device connected to the subscriber circuit switching network by the analog subscriber line in a subscriber circuit switching network for switching a call of a wireless terminal device to the analog subscriber line. Means for storing terminal numbers of one or more terminals received from a predetermined device via the subscriber circuit switching network and authentication information associated with the terminal numbers, and the wireless terminal via the relay device. And a means for authenticating the wireless terminal by using the stored authentication information associated with the stored terminal number of the wireless terminal when making a call using the subscriber circuit switching network. Characteristic terminal authentication device.