JPS60174547A - Information charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the troublesome office processing accompanying to the settlement of information charge between an information donor and a user by arranging the settlement of information charge by information donors and users through an in-network device, and performing substitution collection and substitution payment by a network operation company. CONSTITUTION:The code number of a demand for charging, the demanded amount of money, etc., are inputted to an information donor device 1 and their signals are sent to a subscriber line terminal device 51. The device 51 sends information and a charing demand signal PA to the in-network device 3 and converted by the subscriber line terminal device 61 of the device 3 into a digital signal, which is sent to a line concentrating device 71. The signal PA is sent to a CPU101 through the device 71 and then supplied from the CPU101 to the CPU 102 of an in-line device 4 through common signal devices 121 and 122, so that the CPU102 informs a user device 2 of the demand for charging through a device 52. The user inputs a consent code and then the CPU102 of the device 4 records the charge in the account of the device 2 and sends a charging completion signal PF to the CPU10 of the device 3 through devices 122 and 121. Then, the CPU101 sends a charging completion sinals PN to the device 1 after storing the charge in the donor's account.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an information fee billing system using an information fee payment technique for settling the value of communicated information.

[Prior art]

In the conventional information fee payment method, a user account is set up in advance on the information provider device, and each time the information provider device uses the device, it verifies whether the user is legitimate using a preset PIN number, etc. After providing the information, the information fee for the service is charged to the user's account, and the provider charges each user separately for settlement.

This information fee payment method is suitable for information services that have relatively few users and are used relatively frequently. It is not suitable for information fee payments when there are many information services and providers used. If the provider attempts to settle information fees in such cases using the conventional method, the provider will have to bear a lot of administrative costs in order to receive relatively small information fees from many users, and The information provider will be burdened with the complexity of having to process the information fees charged by many information providers one by one.

Therefore, in this conventional method, it is difficult to distribute information that is expected to be used by an unspecified number of people, information that has many information providers, or information that requires different information fees for each individual. It is thought that it is difficult to smoothly distribute information. ＠ [Summary of the Invention] This invention eliminates the complexity of administrative processing that occurs in conventional methods by allowing the network to organize and settle information fees for each user and information provider. The purpose is to provide an information fee billing system that contributes to the advancement of an information society by eliminating the need for information, allowing the smooth distribution of information of different values.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the simple side of this invention, and in this diagram, 1. ~1. is an information provider device (hereinafter referred to collectively as 1. The same applies to other symbols), 21 to 2
．． is the user device; 3. -3 is the first network device, 41~
4fl is a second in-network device, and information provider device 11 to
1. are connected to the first network interior &31-3n, and the user devices 21-2. is the second network device 4. ~4fl is connected. Note that N is a communication network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of signals in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
is the first network device 3. It is connected to the user device 2 via the second network device 4. And, the * mark indicates that processing is to be performed.

In FIG. 2, when the information provider performs billing processing using the information provider device 1 and sends a billing signal P to the first network device 3, the first network device 3 This is transferred to the network device 4. When the second network device 4 receives the billing number PA from the first network device 3, it extracts the billing amount etc. from the billing signal PA and notifies it to the user device 2 as a billing notification signal P. do. This notification can also be converted into audio (No. 1) by the second network device 4 so that the user can hear it directly.

Upon receiving this notification, the user device 2 displays this clearly or as a display Pe and notifies the user. The user confirms the billing amount, and when approving the billing request, the user [
2, and sends a billing approval signal FD to the second network device 4. When the second network device 4 receives this billing consent signal Pn, it processes the billing amount of the previously notified billing notification signal pH into the corresponding user account in the information fee storage section, and completes the billing process. A signal P is sent to the first network device 3. The first in-network device 3 receives this billing signal P,
When receiving the bill, the billing amount that was previously requested is processed as a billed memory P0 in the information fee storage account section for the connected information provider device 1, and a billing notice P0 is sent to the information provider device IK.
Process M.

This billing notification P is what you need. is the first network device 3
It is also possible to send it out as an audio signal.

The information provider device 1 may be the first in-network device 3 and may receive a billing notification P.
When M is received, it is visually or audibly displayed and notified to the information provider. From this notification, the provider confirms that the payment has been made and recognizes that the payment for the information has been completed.
Start providing information. Note that the timing of billing is, of course, not limited to before the information is provided. Also,
The information provider device 1 can easily be controlled automatically by a semiconductor processor device, etc. In this case, the debt information provider device 1 can send a signal without visually or audibly displaying the billing notification PM. Of course, it can be accepted as is.

Next, a more specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4(a) and 4(b).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the digital network (FIG. 4<8).

(b) is the information provider device 1 of FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a user device 2. FIG.

In FIG. 3, information provider device 1. The user equipment 2 includes a subscriber line terminal unit (DSU) 51 . for transmitting digital signals over the subscriber line. 1st respectively through St. The second network device 3.4 is connected to the first network device 3.4. The second network device 3.4 is connected to an exchange connection device (not shown), etc.
interconnected. The first and second network devices 3 and 4 have similar configurations, and are indicated by the same numbers with different suffixes in FIG.

In Figure 3, subscriber line terminal equipment (SLT) 61, 6
The power is the DSU5. ,5. A device for transmitting digital signals to the subscriber line facing the DSU 5, which separates communication information and control signals from the DSU 5 and concentrators 7117! Send to, concentrator? ,,7. Integrate communication information and control signals from 1. It has the function of transmitting the data to the DSU5.

Concentrator 7m, 7. has the function of concentrating communication information and terminating control signals. The communication information from the line concentrator Beat is sent to the communication path device 9. ．． 9. [Opposite 1st. Second
The control signal is connected and transmitted to the network devices 3 and 4 of the subscriber line signal device 8. , 8. via the central processing unit 10,
110. transmitted to.

11.111. is an information charge storage device, which will be described later. Central processing unit 10. ．． 10. Is it a line concentrator?
,, ? , and common line signaling device 121112! According to the control signal from the communication path device 9. ．． 9. , and controls the communication connection between the user device [2 and the information provider device 1].

In addition, the central processing unit 110□, 10° is connected to the first and second outputs.
The common line signal equipment [12
, 112, mutual transmission and reception are possible. Note that RN is a relay network.

The information provider device W,1 and the user device 2 are shown in FIG. 4(a).

As shown in (b), the information input/output section 14m114゜, the number input/output section 1s, , 1s, and DSU 51
+ Communication processing unit 1 that performs interface processing with 52
3. .

13, consists of.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 (aL (b), before billing is performed, the user device 2 and the information provider device 1 are Each information input/output unit 141y 14 is connected by an exchange connection procedure.
Communication by t is started and 0 is reached.

In order for the information provider to make a billing request, the information provider inputs the billing billing code number and billing amount by operating the buttons on the (D input/output section 151) of the information provider device 1, and then the signal input/output section 15□ converts this into signal pressure and sends it to the communication processing unit 13
．． Send to. The communication processing unit 13° is an information input/output unit 141
This is sent to the DSUE along with the information from the DSUE. 1)
SU5. converts the format of the information and billing signal PA (FIG. 2) and sends it to the first in-network device 3 via the subscriber line. 8LT6 of the first network device 3,
converts this into a digital signal and transmits information and billing (
The fi number PA is connected to the line concentrator 7. Send to. Line concentrator 17
+ sends the billing signal PA to the central processing unit 10.+ via the subscriber line signaling device 81. send to When the central processing unit 10° receives the billing signal P, it temporarily stores the billing amount, the billing information provider device account number, the user device account number, etc., and sends this information via the common line signal device 12□. Then, it is sent to the second network device 4. Central processing unit 10 of second network device 4. transmits this billing signal PA to the common line signaling device lt, 12. When received via the subscriber line signaling device 83., it is sent to the subscriber line signaling device 83. Concentrator 7. ．． 5LT6. [Notify of billing via].

DSU5. separates this notification and information as a digital signal and sends it to the user device 2. The user device 2 has a communication processing section 13. This is received by the signal input/output unit 151, converted into a code as a billing bill, and displayed to the user together with the billing amount.

The user confirms this, and if he/she agrees, sends the acceptance hood to the signal input/output unit 15. Input by button operation, etc. If you do not consent, you will be required to enter the non-acceptance candy code in the same way or disconnect the communication. When the consent code is input, the signal input/output unit 15 converts it into a digital signal and sends it to the DSU via the communication processing unit 13.
Send to. DSU52 uses this information as well as the second
The data is transmitted to the network device 4.

The central processing unit 102 of the second network device 4 accepts this consent 4.
No. 3 is 5LT6t, line concentrator 1! , when received via the subscriber line (No. 8 device 82), the charge is stored in the corresponding user device 20 account in the information fee storage device 112. At this time, the charge date and time 2 charge billing information provider device account It is also possible to simultaneously store numbers, etc.Next, the central processing unit 102 of the second network device 4 sends the billing record No. 4R P, which indicates that billing has been completed with billing consent, to the common line. It is sent to the first in-network device 3 via the signal device 12!.When the charge signal P2 is received via the common line signal device @12., the central processing unit 101 of the first in-network device 3 stores the billing amount, etc. on the receiving (receivable) side of the corresponding billing information provider device account of the information fee storage device 111. In this case, the date and time of storage, the user device account number, etc. are also stored at the same time. It is also possible to do so.

Central processing unit 10. When the series of processing is completed, the subscriber line signaling device 81. Concentrator 7. ,5LT6. , D
SU5. Billing notification PI to information provider device 1 via
Send out. Signal input/output section 15 of information provider device 1. When receiving this signal via the communication processing unit 131, it displays it to the information provider. By checking this display, the information provider confirms that the information fee has been paid.

Note that communications such as information from information providers and requests for information from users are handled by the information input/output section 14!2 communication processing section 13i.
, DSU51,8i, T6. , line concentrator 7. .

Communication path device 91. ......Telephone communication device 97. Concentrator 1. .

5LT6. , DSU5. , communication processing unit 137. Information input/output section 14! It is done through.

Also, 1st. The second in-network f2 devices 3 and 4 transmit the billing notification P Hr billing request notification to the information provider device 11 and the user device 2 to the communication path device 9 . ．． 9. or line concentrator 7. ．． 7
．． An audio signal generator connected to the audio signal generating device converts the signal into an audio signal, and transmits the signal to the information provider (if signal) to the information provider device 11 user device 2.
It is easy to send to.

Furthermore, in the above description, - information provider fit location 1 degree user device 2. Although the first and second network devices 3 and 4 have been described separately, they can of course be shared devices. In addition, the first aspect of this invention. Since the second intra-network device 3.4 can be incorporated as an additional function in a normal exchange, as shown in FIG. 3, the implementation of the inventive system can be realized at a relatively low cost.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides a means for the information provider to request payment and a means for recording that the user approves the payment, so that the information cost between the information provider and the user is Payments can be organized for each information provider and user using in-network devices, and the network operating company collects and pays them on their behalf, thereby reducing the amount of information fees that should be paid between information providers and users. This has the effect of significantly reducing the complexity of administrative processing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the method of an embodiment of the present invention;
The figure shows the flow of signals on the male side of figure 1,
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration when this invention is applied to a digital communication network, and FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are block diagrams showing the main configurations of the information provider device and user device in FIG. It is a block diagram. In the figure, 11-1. are information provider devices, 2I-2. is a user device, 31 to 3n are first network devices, 41 to 4n are second network devices, 51+J is a subscriber line terminal terminal device, '1
=62 is subscriber line terminal equipment, 71+71 is line concentrator, J
'+' 82 is a subscriber line signaling device, 9, . 9. is the communication path device, 1o□, 1o is the central processing unit, 111+1't
is an information charge storage device, 121+12t is a common line signal device,
13□, 13. is the communication processing section, ``sr 14!'' is the information input/output section, and 'J+15t is the signal input/output section. Figure 1 N Method Figure 2 Figure 4 (a) Figure (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an information fee billing system for a system that connects Tsuibo Network K'I or a plurality of information provider devices and one or a plurality of user devices and distributes information via the communication network;
The information provider device has means for billing a user device during connection communication to a first in-network device that accommodates the information provider device, and a billing notification from the first in-network device. a first in-network device that accommodates the information provider device receives a billing request from the information provider device that accommodates the information provider device; means for transmitting the billing request to an in-network device; means for receiving a billing completion signal for the billing request from the second in-network device and transmitting a mortgage completed notification to the information provider device; a second in-network device accommodating the user device stores billing charges from an information provider device connected to the user device;
means for receiving from an in-network device and notifying the user device of billing information such as billing amount, means for receiving a billing consent signal for the billing from the user device, and receiving the billing consent signal. The user device is provided with means for charging and storing information charges in an information fee storage unit for the user device, and means for sending a billing completion signal to the first network device; An information charge charging system characterized by comprising means for displaying information related to billing from a device, and means for sending billing consent (No. 8) for said billing to said second network device.