JPH11168582A - Charging method for holding call and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exclude a charge for a holding time during a 2-party speech from an object of charging. SOLUTION: The charging system 501 is provided with a speech hold detection section 510 that detects a speech hold start and speech hold release signal sent from a subscriber during a speech between two subscribers, a watchdog timer 520 that monitors a speech hold time, a counter 525 that calculates a holding call unit, a storage section 530 that stores a speech start time, a speech end time, a hold start time and a hold release time, a speech charge calculation section 550 that calculates the speech charge depending on the speech time from the speech start time to the speech end time, a reduced charge calculation section 560 that calculates the reduced speech charge depending on the hold time in existence between the hold start time and the hold release time, and a speech hold forced release section where when the hold time exceeds a permissible time, the exceeded time is stored as the hold release time to the storage section 530 and stop of non-charging during the speech holding is informed of the subscriber.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-charging service when a call is put on hold in a time-based charge system in which a call charge is charged according to the call time, and in particular, a call holding occurs between two subscribers during a call. At this time, the present invention relates to a charge service for a call hold in which a charge corresponding to the hold time is subtracted from the call charge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a general call charge is calculated from the time when a response of a receiving side subscriber due to off-hook is detected to the time when a termination of a call due to on-hook of either a calling side or called side subscriber is detected. Is calculated by multiplying this call time by a predetermined unit charge determined according to a time zone, a section, and the like, and the calling subscriber is charged.

However, in this system, when a call is interrupted from a third party by the interrupt call service during a call between two parties and one of the calls is put on hold, in addition to the call charge for the interrupt call, In addition, there is a problem of double charging that a call fee is charged even for a held call.

A solution to the double billing problem is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-64-41563 and JP-A-4-35845.
No. 2, JP-A-6-326772 and the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional non-billing method during call holding. In the figure, this method
The originating subscriber 10 and the terminating subscriber 11 performing inter-party communication, and the third party 12 performing an interrupt call connection thereto are respectively connected to the communication path systems 201 and 102 of the exchanges 101, 102 and 103. 202 and 203 are connected. It is assumed that the subscriber 10 has received the interrupt connection service.

[0006] The call path system 201 of the exchange 101 to which the calling party 10 of the two-party communication is connected has a call path circuit 2017 to which a call waiting circuit 2015 and an audible sound signal transmission circuit 2016 are connected. The subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11 are connected via a communication path system 2017 of the exchange 101, a call waiting circuit 2015, and a communication path system 202 of the exchange 102. In addition, each exchange 10
Reference numerals 1, 102, and 103 denote signal processing systems 301, 302, and 303 for processing subscriber line signals and inter-unit signals, respectively, in addition to the communication path system 201, and execution of control programs for switching operations and input / output devices. And control systems 401, 402, and 403 for controlling the data transfer. Exchange 1
01 is connected to signal processing systems 302 and 303 of exchanges 102 and 103 via a signal line 3011.

Next, the operation of the non-charging process when the call is on hold in this system will be described.

When the calling subscriber 10 and the called subscriber 11 to be charged are in a call, the third subscriber 12 makes an interrupt connection to the subscriber 10 who is receiving the interrupt connection service. Then, the subscriber 10 performs a switching operation such as a hooking operation and a recognition button operation to temporarily suspend the call with the called subscriber 11 and enter the call state with the third subscriber 12. The exchange 101 is a subscriber 1
Upon detecting a hooking operation of 0, etc., the charging processing operation for the call between the subscribers 10 and 11 put on hold is stopped. Thereafter, when the subscriber 10 performs the switching operation again,
The call between the subscribers 10 and 11 is resumed, and at the same time, the charging process for the subscriber 10 which has been stopped is resumed.

[0009]

The above-mentioned conventional non-billing method is intended for non-billing only for the time during which a call is put on hold due to interruption by a third party during a call between two parties. However, this service is available only to subscribers who receive the interrupt connection service, and even if the subscriber receives the interrupt connection service, only one of the subscribers can make a call during a call between the two parties. If the call is put on hold while keeping the connection for convenience, it will not be charged.

[0010] Therefore, in order to set a non-charged time for a non-communication state in which a call is interrupted, it is necessary to once again on-hook to terminate the connection between the two parties and then redial again. However, when dialing to resume the call, if the other party remains off-hook, the connection is rejected and the connection is rejected, and the call must be repeated.

Regarding this problem, see, for example,
No. 137465 provides a fine charge service by forming a call hold state between the own station and the station by transmitting and receiving a hold signal from a telephone, and calculating a charge separately from a hold time zone and a general call time zone. It is disclosed.

[0012] However, in this case, extra processing is required for both the exchanges on the calling side and the called side for processing for forming a call hold state between the stations and processing for releasing the call hold state and restarting the billing processing. There is a problem that load is applied,
There is a problem that a special charge system in the hold time zone may be exploited to cause a long hold during a call to be made.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is another object of the present invention to provide a charging method and a device for the call holding in which a hold time during a two-party call is excluded from the charge and a more detailed charge system can be set.

It is a further object of the present invention to prevent the system from being abused to cause a long hold during a call.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for charging a call on hold, which detects a call hold generated by any one of the subscribers during a call between two subscribers and a release of the call hold and detects the call hold. Memorize the hold start time and the hold release time,
When calculating the call charge between two subscribers, the charge corresponding to the hold time from the hold start time to the hold release time is subtracted from the call charge corresponding to the time from the start to the end of the call.

[0016] Further, the called subscriber is interrupted by the calling subscriber during a call with the third subscriber, and the call with the third subscriber is already on hold as a call hold due to interruption. The subscriber to whom the call charge during the call hold period with the third subscriber has been reduced may be used.

Further, when a plurality of call holdings occur during a single call between two subscribers, the total of the charge corresponding to the call holding time from the hold start time to the hold release time for each call is set. It may be subtracted from the call charge calculated according to the call time from the start time to the call end time.

Further, the time during which the hold is continued from the first hold start time is measured, and the time when the total hold time exceeds a predetermined time is reported to the subscriber as a compulsory final hold release time, and thereafter, the subscriber is notified. It is desirable to stop subtracting the call charge from the call hold time of the call.

The charging apparatus for call holding according to the present invention comprises: a calling party and a called party during a call between two subscribers;
A means for detecting a call hold signal sent from any of the subscribers, a means for detecting a call hold release signal sent from the subscriber, a call start time, a call end time, and a call hold signal Means for storing the hold start time and the hold release time at which the call hold release signal is detected, and the charge corresponding to the call hold time from the hold start time to the hold release time, and the call from the call start time to the call end time. Means for subtracting from the call charge calculated according to time.

Also, a hold time monitoring means for measuring the time during which the hold is continued from the time when the call hold signal is detected and monitoring whether or not the predetermined time is exceeded, and detecting that the hold time has exceeded the predetermined time. When the call is made, the subscriber is informed that the call charge will be charged for the subsequent call hold time, the measurement of the hold time is stopped, and the time is stored as a forced hold release time, It is desirable to have a forced hold canceling unit that does not detect a call hold and call hold cancel signal from a subsequent subscriber.

[0021]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a signal sequence diagram.

In FIG. 1, a subscriber 10 and a subscriber 11 who are in a call are connected to communication path devices 201 and 202 of exchanges 101 and 102, respectively. Each exchange 10
Reference numerals 1 and 102 denote signal processing devices 301 and 302 for processing transmission and reception of signals between exchanges and subscriber line signals in addition to the communication path devices 201 and 202, received digit analysis such as dial numbers, and connection routes. Control devices 401 and 402 for controlling an exchange operation such as selection of a call, and accounting devices 501 and 502 for calculating a call charge based on a call time.

Each of billing system devices 501 and 502 includes a call holding detecting section 510 for detecting a call holding start and call holding release signal sent from any of the subscribers during a call between two subscribers. A monitoring timer 520 for updating the call hold time by updating each time a call is started, a counter 525 for calculating the number of hold times during one call, a call start time, a call end time, a hold start time when a call hold signal is detected, and A storage unit 530 in which a hold release time at which a call hold release signal is detected is stored, and a call charge from a call start time to a call end time is multiplied by a predetermined unit price determined by region, time zone, or the like. Call rate calculation unit 540 for calculating the call rate by using a charge, and reducing the call rate by multiplying the call holding time from the hold start time to the hold release time by a predetermined money. When the hold time exceeds the permissible time, the money calculation unit 550 stores the time in the storage unit 530 as the hold release time, and informs the subscriber that the non-charging during the call hold is stopped to the subscriber. Release part 5
60.

The accounting devices 501 and 502 are different from the above-mentioned configuration in that the storage unit 530 is eliminated and the call charge calculation unit 540 is used.
May generate a billing pulse every predetermined unit time from the call start time, and integrate the call time into a frequency meter or the like,
In this case, the reduced charge calculation unit 550 may have any function as long as it has a function of temporarily suspending the generation of the charging pulse during the reduction target period due to call holding. Alternatively, the call charge calculation unit 540 and the reduced charge calculation unit 550 are connected to the exchanges 101 and 10.
2, a call charge reduced by the call start time, the call end time, the hold start time, and the hold release time stored in the storage unit 530 may be calculated.

Next, the operation of this system will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The subscriber 10 on the calling side is the subscriber 11 on the called side.
Is dialed, the exchange 101 switches to the exchange 10
2, the subscriber 11 responds by sending the signal IAM,
Signals ACM and ANM are sent from the exchange 102 to the exchange 101, and the communication path devices 20 of the exchanges 101 and 102 are transmitted.
1, 202 and both connected via the call line 2011 are in a call state, and the exchange 101 on the calling subscriber side
The control system device 401 records the response time of the subscriber 11 as the call start time in the storage unit 530 of the charging system device 501 (step S1). At the same time, a predetermined allowable maximum holding time m, for example, 2 minutes, is set in the holding time monitoring timer 520, the number of holding times counter is set to 0, and the initial state is reset.

Thereafter, when one of the subscribers 10 and 11 tries to hold the connected call by pressing the hold button or by hooking, the exchange 101 or 102 to which the subscriber belongs.
The call hold detection unit 510 detects this (step S
2) First, it is determined whether the exchange to which the subscriber who wants to hold belongs belongs to the calling side or the called side (step S3). And
If the exchange to which the subscriber who wants to hold belongs is the exchange 102 on the receiving side, the exchange 101 on the originating side is notified (step S4). When the originating exchange 101 recognizes the occurrence of the call hold based on the notification from the destination exchange 102 or the self-detection, it checks the hold count counter 525 and the monitoring timer to determine whether the limit value is exceeded. (Step S5). At this time, if the checked number of suspensions exceeds a predetermined maximum value n times, for example, three times, or exceeds the time limit m minutes, the exchange 101
Uses the time as the time of the call hold forced release,
30 and the call exemption unit 560 stops the charge exemption during the call hold, informs the subscribers 10 and 11 of the suspension of the non-charge while the call is held, and also makes a call for the subsequent charge. The time measurement is restarted, the forced hold release process is performed without performing the hold time subtraction process due to the hold, and the call time is continuously accumulated until the end of the call (steps S8, S10, S11).

If the checked number of suspensions and the time do not exceed the predetermined maximum value n times or m minutes, the exchange 101
Records the time of occurrence of the call hold in its storage unit 530, increments the hold number counter by 1, and starts measuring the hold time by the monitoring timer (step S6).

If it is detected that the call hold has been released before the maximum hold time m has elapsed (step S7), the exchange 1
01 stops the monitoring timer and records the time of releasing the call hold in the storage unit 530 (step S).
9). When the subscriber 11 who has generated the call hold releases the call hold, a signal is sent from the exchange 102 which has detected the call hold to the calling side exchange 101 to notify the call holding release.

When the end of the call is detected (step S1)
0), the call end time is stored in the storage unit 530, and then the call charge calculation unit 550 and the subtraction charge calculation unit 560 are stored in the storage unit 53.
Based on the call start time, the call end time, the call hold start time, and the call hold release time stored in 0, a call charge and a subtraction charge due to the call hold are calculated (step S).
11).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
And FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a signal sequence diagram.

In FIG. 4, exchange 101 is exchange 1
01, and the third subscriber 12 of the exchange 103 during a two-way call between the originating subscriber 10 of the exchange 103 and the destination subscriber 11 of the exchange 102.
If an interrupt call occurs to the calling subscriber 10 from
The subscriber 10 is notified that there is an interrupt call, and the subscriber 10 performs a switching operation by hooking operation to change the telephone line to the telephone line 2 between the exchange 101 and the exchange 102.
Call line 2 between exchange 101 and exchange 103 and exchange 103
012 is provided. By this switching, the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11 is put on hold, and the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 is started.

In FIG. 5, when an interrupt call is generated from the third subscriber 12 to the subscriber 10 during the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11 (S20), the subscriber 10 is switched by the switching operation of the subscriber 10. The call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 is suspended, and the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 is started. At this time,
The exchange 101 on the calling side with respect to the subscriber 11
In order to temporarily suspend the charging of the call charge between the subscribers 10 and 11 whose call is put on hold when 0 performs the switching operation,
The on-hold occurrence time due to the interruption call is stored in the storage unit 530 (step S21).

Thereafter, during the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12, the subscriber 10 performs the switching operation by hooking again to switch from the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 to the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11. In this case, the exchange 101 is connected to the exchange 10 which is the originating side of the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12.
3 is notified of the occurrence of the interruption call hold, and the time is stored in the storage unit 530 as the time of releasing the call hold due to the interruption with the subscriber 11 (step S2).
2).

When the exchange 103 receives the notification from the exchange 101, the exchange 103 stores the hold occurrence time due to the interrupted call (step S23), and temporarily suspends the charging of the call charge.

Thereafter, during a call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11, the subscriber 11 puts the call on hold by pressing the hold button, and then releases the hold, as in the first embodiment. Signals indicating the occurrence and release of the call hold are sent from the exchange 102 to the originating exchange 101, and the exchange 101 stores the occurrence time and the release time of the call hold, and performs a charging suspension process of the call charge for the call hold (step S24, S25).

Further, during the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11, the subscriber 10 switches by hooking, suspends the call with the subscriber 11, and tries to resume the call with the subscriber 12. The exchange 101 stores the switching time as an interruption hold time of the call with the subscriber 11 and sends a signal to the exchange 103 to release the interruption call hold between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12. (Step S26). The exchange 103 determines in step S23
The time at which the signal was received is stored as the release time of the hold due to the interrupted call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 processed in step (step S27).

When the subscriber 12 presses the hold button during the call between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 resumed as described above to hold the call (step S28), the charging process is performed as the calling side of the call. The exchange 103 that performs the call stores the time of occurrence and release of the call hold, and manages the time counting by the monitoring timer and the number of holdings by the hold frequency counter (steps S28 to S29).

Thereafter, the communication between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 12 is completed, and the subscriber 12 goes on-hook (step S3).
0), when the subscriber 10 switches to a call with the subscriber 11 by hooking (step S31), the exchange 103
The time is stored as the end time of the call from the subscriber 12 to the subscriber 10, and the charging process for the subscriber 12 is stopped (step S30).

When the telephone conversation between the subscriber 10 and the subscriber 11 is completed and the subscriber 10 goes on-hook, the exchange 101 performing the charging process of the originating subscriber 10 is switched to the exchange 102.
Is disconnected, the time is stored as the end time of the call from the subscriber 10 to the subscriber 11, and the charging process for the subscriber 10 is stopped.

To calculate the call charge, the exchanges 101 and 103, which are the calling sides of each call, use the call charge calculated according to the time from the call start time to the call end time to determine whether a third party has interrupted the call. It is calculated by subtracting the reduced call charge calculated in accordance with the associated call hold time and the call hold time generated during the call between the two parties. In FIG. 5, the charging target period of the subscriber 10 is indicated by hatching falling left, and the charging target period of the subscriber 12 is indicated by hatching falling right.

In the above description, the call hold signal sent from the subscriber is taken as hooking or the like. However, the signal may be a digital signal or an analog signal depending on the system of the exchange to which the subscriber belongs. The signaling system between exchanges can be applied to both the common channel signaling system and the individual channel signaling system.

In each of the above embodiments, the point that the charging exemption time and the number of times of holding for the holding during the call between the two parties are restricted to suppress the holding of the call for a long time,
The billing method for the call hold by the interruption of the third party,
It is different from unlimited time in terms of fee calculation. However, considering a subscriber who is on hold during a call between two parties and is waiting in addition to preventing abuse, the time limit and the number of times are preferably common sense values that are not so large as illustrated.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention detects a call hold generated by one of the two subscribers during a call between two subscribers and cancels the call hold, and detects a hold start time and a hold release time. When calculating the call charge between two subscribers,
By subtracting the charge corresponding to the on-hold time from the on-hold start time to the on-hold release time from the call charge, the on-hold time during the two-party call is also excluded from the billing and the effect of setting a finer rate system can be set. There is.

Further, this service has an effect that it can be provided in combination with the conventionally proposed call holding associated with an interrupted call by a third party.

The time during which the hold is continued from the first hold start time is measured, and the time when the total hold time exceeds a predetermined time is reported to the subscriber as the compulsory final hold release time, and thereafter, the subscriber is notified. By stopping the subtraction of the call charge from the call hold time, it is possible to prevent the system from being exploited to prevent a long hold during a call.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a signal sequence diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a signal sequence diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional non-billing method when a call is held.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 11, 12 Subscribers 101, 102, 103 Switching systems 201, 202, 203 Communication path devices 301, 302, 303 Signal processing devices 401, 402, 403 Control devices 501, 502, 503 Billing devices 2011, 2012 Call line 3011, 3012 Signal line S1 to S31 Step

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A call termination time is defined as the time at which the off-hook of the called party is detected as the call start time, and the time at which the on-hook of either the calling side or the called side is detected as the call end time. A charging method in which a call charge is charged according to a call time up to a time, wherein a call holding transmitted from any one of said subscribers during a call between two subscribers, a calling subscriber and a called subscriber. Detecting the signal and storing the hold start time, detecting the call release signal transmitted from the subscriber who transmitted the call hold signal, storing the hold release time, and storing the hold from the hold start time. A charge method for call holding, characterized in that a charge corresponding to the call hold time until the release time is subtracted from the call charge calculated according to the call time from the call start time to the call end time. Law. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the called subscriber is interrupted by the calling subscriber during a call with the third subscriber, and is already holding the call with the third subscriber. 2. The method for charging a call on hold according to claim 1, wherein said caller is a subscriber to whom a call charge during a call holding period has been deducted. 3. When a plurality of call holdings occur during a single call between two subscribers, the call is summed up with a total charge corresponding to a call holding time from a hold start time to a hold release time for each call. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the charge is subtracted from a call charge calculated according to a call time from a start time to a call end time. 4. The time during which the hold is continued from the first hold start time is measured, and the time at which the accumulated hold time exceeds a predetermined time is reported to the subscriber as a compulsory final hold release time. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the deduction of the call charge from the call hold time is stopped. 5. The time when the off-hook of the called party is detected as the call start time, and the time when the on-hook of either the calling side or the called side is detected as the call end time, and the call is ended from the call start time. A call charge accounting apparatus for calculating a call charge according to a call time up to a time, wherein the call is transmitted from any one of the two subscribers during a call between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber. Means for detecting a call hold signal; means for detecting a call hold release signal sent from the subscriber; the call start time, call end time, hold start time when the call hold signal is detected, and call hold release Means for storing a hold release time at which the signal of the call is detected, and a charge corresponding to the call hold time from the hold start time to the hold release time, and a charge for the call from the call start time to the call end time. Charging device for the call holding, characterized in that it comprises a means for subtracting from the call charge calculated in accordance with the. 6. A hold time monitoring means for measuring a time during which the hold is continued from a time when the call hold signal is detected and monitoring whether or not the hold time exceeds a predetermined time, and when the hold time exceeds a predetermined time. When it is detected, the subscriber is informed that the call charge will be charged for the subsequent call hold time, and the measurement of the hold time is stopped, and the time is stored as a forced hold release time. 6. The charging apparatus for call holding according to claim 5, further comprising a forced hold canceling unit that does not detect a call holding and call holding cancellation signal from a subsequent subscriber.