JPS6359624B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a billing system for message communications such as facsimile communications.

In conventional telephone networks, billing is performed when a line loop is set up on a communication line between a caller and a called party, and billing is performed based on information proportional to the holding time of the line loop.

However, in message communications such as facsimile communications, even after a communication line is set up between the calling and receiving parties, the facsimile terminal may not be ready to receive reception due to power outages, paper shortages, etc., resulting in communication failure. However, in the conventional telephone network, where the holding time is proportionally charged, there is a disadvantage in that it is unreasonable to charge even for communication that has not been established.

Furthermore, in the second conventional example, in the case of a packet-switched network, charging is performed on a packet-by-packet basis, and charging is triggered by the link-level reception confirmation of the charging packet. , i.e. 1 per message unit
The disadvantage of communication, where the amount of information per message was approximately 40k bytes, was that communication charges were extremely high.

In addition, in the third conventional example, a communication method has an inexpensive fee structure in which a charging opportunity is generated when a message reception confirmation signal is received from a receiving terminal for each message, and charging is performed per message, for example, per page. However, in this case, if the receiving terminal does not intentionally return a message reception confirmation signal after receiving almost all of the message units (correspondence), the receiving terminal has almost received the message and the communication is almost complete. Despite this, it was unreasonable that the network could not charge for the messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide a reasonable billing system for facsimile communications on both the user side and the network side.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration to which the present invention is applied. T is a terminal, for example, a facsimile terminal,
I is also a terminal, but here we will consider an information center consisting of electronic computers and the like. X ₁ is an exchange that accommodates facsimile terminals, X ₂ is an exchange that accommodates an information center, and S ₁ and S ₂ are storage devices. It is assumed that each exchange and storage device is connected to a common channel signaling (CCS) network conforming to the CCITT No. 7 signaling system, etc., in order to transfer call control signals, billing signals, etc.

Now, from facsimile terminal T to information center I2
Consider the example of sending a page of correspondence. Here, we will consider a facsimile message as a message, and a page as a message unit. However, this is just one example and does not limit the invention.
In other words, a correspondence can be considered to consist of one or more pages. The facsimile terminal T dials the storage communication special number and destination information center number, and the exchange X ₁ sets a path to the storage device S ₁ from the special number. The exchange _X1 may be of circuit switching type or packet switching type. After setting the path, the facsimile terminal T sends a two-page message to the storage device S ₁ , and the storage device S ₁ stores the message,
Cut the path. Note that the storage device S ₁ notifies the exchange X ₁ via the common channel signal network CCS that two pages have been received, and the exchange X ₁ creates a page management table for the received pages. Storage device S ₁ is the storage device from the information center number.
S ₂ is selected and a relay path is set to the storage device S _2. The storage device S ₁ reads the two pages stored and transfers them to the storage device S ₂ , and the storage device S ₂ reads the two pages. is accumulated, and then the inter-office transfer path is disconnected. The storage device S ₂ is then connected to the information center I via the exchange X ₂ .
Set a path to the information center I and send the stored message to the information center I. At the time when a page is transmitted from the storage device _S2 to the information center I, an opportunity to charge communication charges occurs.

Next, the operation between the storage device _S2 and the information center I, which is directly related to the structure of the present invention, will be explained in detail using the signal sequence diagram shown in FIG. The exchange _X2 is a packet-switching type exchange, and the connection between _S2 - _X2 -I is assumed to be a VC connection. However, this is one example and does not limit the present invention.

The storage device S ₂ is connected to the transport level path (T
₂ x CR packet exchanger to set up path)
Information center I sends CC if it is possible to set T-pass.
When the storage device _S2 receives the packet, it sends a DT packet as a function control level command to set up a logical path (F path) at a function control level above the transport level.
Send a BIND command. Note that since all commands and responses at the function control level are transferred in DT packets, it will not be described below that they are transferred in DT packets. If the information center I can negotiate with the storage device S ₂ regarding the function to be used on the F path, it returns +RSP. Storage device _S2 then sends an instruction to start end-to-center communication.
Send SRT command, information center I +RSP
to be sent back. Thereafter, the storage device _S2 transmits a first page reception preparation request (PGT) command to the information center I, and when the information center I is ready, it returns +RSP. The storage device _S2 uses the +RSP reception time point _P1 for the PGT as a charging trigger for the first page, and stores this fact. Thereafter, the image information of the first page is read out and sequentially transmitted to the information center I using the image information (PIX) command. A PIX command is composed of multiple DT packets, and one page may be composed of multiple PIX commands. For example, if code information such as character codes and pattern information such as scanning linear image information are mixed on one page, separate information will be created for each type of information.
It may be a PIX command. When the information center I successfully receives one page of image information (code information or pattern information), it returns +RSP.
The storage device _S2 starts charging processing at the time _Q1 when +RSP is received as a reception completion signal for the first page. It is assumed that the billing function of packet switch _X2 is stopped during end-to-center communication.

After _Q1 , the storage device _S2 transmits the charging information of the page in the charging signal CHG to the exchange _X1 via the CCS network.
Exchange X ₁ calculates the charging frequency of the first page based on the information in the page management table created earlier and the information on the charging signal CHG, and in the case of originating terminal charging, the _facsimile terminal owned by exchange The charging frequency is registered in T's charging meter. Note that this type of frequency registration generally requires access to a magnetic disk, etc., so the billing frequency for each page is stored in the main memory, and the charge for all pages of the call x non-billing is determined. There is also a method of registering all charges to the billing meter at once.

When the storage device _S2 receives +RSP for the first page, it performs the billing process described above and at the same time transmits a PGT command for the second subsequent page to the information center I.
The storage device S ₂ stores the time point P ₂ when it receives +RPS from the information center I as the charging trigger for the second page, and at the same time sequentially transmits the image information of the second page using the PIX command, and stores the final PIX of the page. When +RSP for the command is received, the previous billing trigger is enabled at Q ₂ , and the necessary billing information is sent to exchange X ₁ using the CHG signal.
exchange _X1 sends back an MCA signal as a reception response signal, and
Billing processing for the page is performed in the same way as for the first page.

After Q _{2 receives +RSP on the second page, storage device S 2 sends} an end-to-center communication end request (END) if there is no longer a message to be sent for the call.
The command is sent, and information center I returns +RSP. After that, to release the F pass
An UNBIND command is sent, and a CQ packet is sent to release the T path, and the communication is completed.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of a second signal sequence for explaining the operation of the present invention. In this example, the first
The page is sent normally, and the second page is sent after the billing trigger occurs.
This occurs when an abnormality occurs while sending a message.

In Figure 3, the moment when the charging opportunity on page 2 occurs P ₂
The operations up to this point are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, so the explanation will be omitted. Assume that, for example, a failure occurs in the information center I while transmitting a PIX command after time P ₂ , and it becomes impossible to send back a response signal such as +RSP from the information center I to the storage device S ₂ . Storage device S ₂ starts the +RSP wait timer in response to the PIX command, and even if ₁ second has passed, +RSP
If it is not received, it is determined that there is a communication error, and starting from time R, a retransmission sequence for the page is started, for example, only once, and a timer is started. If the information center has been restored after t ₂ seconds have passed since point R, the T path setting, F path setting, and SRT command transmission are performed again as shown in Figure 3, and the information shown on page 2 is
Send PGT command and receive +RSP. Note that since the charging opportunity for the second page has already occurred at time _P2 , there is no need to generate a new charging opportunity for the second page at _P'2 . If the message for the second page is successfully transmitted after P′ ₂ , the storage device S ₂ receives +RSP for the page, and at that point in time Q ₂ , the billing trigger in P ₂ becomes valid, and the second CCS sends the necessary billing information for the page to exchange X ₁ using CHG signal
Send via network. Exchange _X1 then calculates the billing frequency for the second page and registers it in the billing meter.

FIG. 4 shows a third example of a signal sequence to explain the operation of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first page is transmitted normally, and the second page shows a case where an abnormality occurs during message transmission after a billing trigger occurs, and then an abnormality occurs again during message transmission after retransmission. In FIG. 4, the steps up to time point _P'2 are the same as those in FIG. 3, so the explanation will be omitted.
If a failure occurs again in I during retransmission of the second page, and +RSP is not received in response to the PIX command even after t ₁ second has passed, the previous billing trigger will be valid at Q ₂ , and
Regarding the second page, billing processing is performed in the same way as in the case of normal transmission. That is, at time _Q2 , the charging information of the second page and the CHG signal are transmitted to the exchange _X1 , and the exchange _X1 performs regular charging processing for the second page.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth example of a signal sequence for explaining the operation of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case is shown in which a failure occurs in the storage device _S2 during transmission of the first page. Such failures include hardware failures such as failures in the image signal storage section and failures in the image signal transfer channel.
Generally, in such a case, the software side is notified after several retries on the hardware side, so even if the software side tries one or more retransmissions, the probability of recovery is small. Therefore, here we will discuss an example in which when the storage device _S2 , which is an in-network device, fails, the software side sets the number of retransmissions to the information center I to 0, that is, cancels the transmission process without attempting retransmission.

In FIG. 5, if the charging trigger for the first page occurs at _P1 , and then a hardware failure occurs in the storage device _S2 while the image information is being read and transmitted to the information center I as a PIX command, the storage device _S2 determines that the page after the page is undeliverable, that is, the page has not been delivered to the recipient, and does not charge regular charges for the page after the page, for example, does not charge (free of charge). Specifically, after detecting a failure in storage device S ₂ , storage device S ₂ sends a CHG signal with information indicating non-charging to exchange X _1.
Send to. When the exchange _X1 makes the first page non-billing, it similarly makes the subsequent pages non-billing.

In addition, in the example of the signal sequence in Fig. 5, an example was explained in which the number of retransmissions was set to 0, but in general, if the transmission ends unsuccessfully even after the prescribed n number of retransmissions, it is determined that the transmission has failed, and the legitimate It may be configured so that no charges are made.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the device configuration related to the present invention. In the figure, it is assumed that the image information transferred from the storage device S ₁ to S ₂ has already been stored in the image information memory 1, and the means for storing image information in the image information memory is omitted.

Before transmitting one page of image information in the image information memory 1 to the information center via the information center transfer device 2, the procedure control device 3 sends a reception preparation request signal to the information center via the information center transfer device 2. When the procedure control device 3 receives the reception preparation completion signal from the return information center, the device 3 stores the occurrence of the billing opportunity, starts the image information transmission control device 4, and starts the image information transmission control device 4. One page of image information in the information memory 1 is read out and sequentially transmitted to the information center via the information center transfer device 2 in a prescribed signal format. During this time, the monitoring device 5 monitors whether the image information is being transmitted normally, and if it detects an abnormality while transmitting the image information of one page, it notifies the image information transmission control device 4 to that effect, and Retransmit the specified number of times.

If no abnormality occurs during the transmission of one page, the image information transmission control device 4 does not receive any particular notification from the monitoring device 5, and notifies the procedure control device 3 to that effect, and the device 3 It learns that the billing opportunity is valid and notifies the billing information collection device 6. The billing information collection device 6 is connected to the procedure control device 3 as necessary.
Then, necessary billing information regarding the page is read from the image information transmission control device 4 and the like, and the billing information is transferred via the common line transfer device 7 to the exchange X ₁ via the CCS network by a billing signal. The exchange X ₁ receives one page of billing information via the common line transfer device 8 and notifies the billing processing device 9, and the billing processing device 9
Page management table memory 1 for pages received and stored in S ₁
The billing information for the page is also read from 0, and the billing frequency for the page is calculated. The calculated billing frequency is stored in the information center billing memory in the billing meter 11.

Note that even if the image information transmission control device 4 is notified of an abnormality from the monitoring device 5 during the last image information retransmission of the specified number of times, the image information transmission control device 4 uses the billing trigger previously stored in the procedure control device 3. to notify that it was valid.

According to the present invention described in detail above, in a message communication service in which messages are stored and transferred in predetermined message units, reasonable charges can be made on both the user side and the network side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a network configuration for explaining the present invention.
2 to 5 are diagrams showing four types of embodiments for explaining the operation of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the device configuration. T...Facsimile terminal, I...Information center,
X ₁ ... Switching machine, X ₂ ... Packet switching machine,
S ₁ , S ₂ ... storage device, CCS ... common line signal network, P _i
...The point in time when the charging trigger for the i-th page occurs, Q _i ...The point in time when the charging trigger for the i-th page is determined to be valid, PGT...Page reception preparation request command, PIX...Picture information command, CHG...Charging signal , 1... image information memory,
2... Information center transfer device, 3... Procedure control device, 4... Image information transmission control device, 5... Monitoring device, 6... Billing information collection device, 9... Billing processing device, 10... Page Management table memory, 11...Billing meter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a message communication service that stores and transfers messages in predetermined message units, a storage device transmits a reception preparation request signal to a receiving device for each message unit; a second means for receiving a reception ready signal for the signal; a third means for using the reception of the reception preparation completion signal as a charging opportunity for the message unit; a fourth means for monitoring whether the message transmission is being performed normally; and a fifth means for monitoring whether the message transmission is being performed normally; A message communication billing system comprising a sixth means for performing retransmission, and a seventh means for performing regular billing for a message unit in which a billing trigger has occurred. 2. In a message communication service that stores and transfers messages in predetermined message units, a first means for a storage device to transmit a reception preparation request signal to a reception device for each message unit, and a reception preparation completion signal in response to the request signal. a second means for receiving the message, a third means for using the reception of the reception ready signal as a charging opportunity for the message unit, and a fourth means for transmitting the message unit to the receiving terminal after receiving the reception preparation completion signal. a fifth means for monitoring whether or not the message transmission is being performed normally; and a sixth means for retransmitting the message a specified number of times if the message transmission is not being performed normally. and if the transmission of the message unit ends in failure even after retransmission a specified number of times due to a failure etc. attributable to the network between the time when the billing trigger for the message unit occurs and the time when the normal transmission of the message unit is confirmed. The message communication billing system is characterized in that it comprises an eighth means for determining non-delivery and not performing regular billing.