KR20000037374A - Pre-payment Billing System for Mobile Telephone and Mothed thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile communication prepayment billing system and method using non-billing number is provided to support a service capable of additional call effectively by providing a prepayment billing service to a mobile communication subscriber using a receiver-loaded dedicated telephone. CONSTITUTION: A subscriber subscribed in a prepayment billing service is connected to a mobile communication exchange using a representative number received in a mobile communication terminal (S100). A call is converted from the mobile communication exchange to an intelligent network (S110). An intelligent network exchange is connected to a billing and authenticating server to inquire subscriber information (S120). It is judged as to whether the representative number received in the billing and authenticating server and a number of the mobile communication terminal are identical to registered contents (S130). An authentication is transmitted to the intelligent exchange when the representative number received in the billing and authenticating server and the number of the mobile communication terminal are identical to registered contents (S150). The intelligent network exchange inquires a number of a receiving terminal to the receiving terminal (S160). The number of the receiving terminal is inputted (S170). The intelligent network exchange inquires a time capable of call of the receiving terminal to the billing and authenticating servers (S180). The billing and authenticating servers computes the time capable of call of the receiving terminal and transmits the computed time to the intelligent network exchange (S190).

Description

Pre-payment Billing System for Mobile Telephone and Mothed

The present invention relates to a mobile communication prepaid billing system and method using a network. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and a method for allowing a mobile subscriber to receive a prepaid billing service using a toll-free telephone number.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is a mobile communication subscriber receiving a general postpaid or flat-rate service connected to the representative telephone number given from the service provider to the exchange of the mobile communication operator to call The service provider is to provide a system and method for calculating the call charge from the callable amount of the called party.

As a technical concept for achieving the object of the present invention, in the present invention, in a system in which a mobile service provider, a mobile communication service subscriber, and a service provider for managing a separate billing account are connected to a network, the service provider is the mobile communication. For example, a 080-XXX-XXXX phone number that is subject to non-billing is assigned to a service provider, and a mobile communication service subscriber accesses the service provider server using a computer equipped with a communication means, for example. After acquiring the number and the available call time, the mobile communication service provider exchanges the service provider server after inquiring member authentication and the like after requesting a call by accessing the mobile communication service provider using a representative number to make a call with the other party. Request the called party number from the mobile subscriber station to connect the call, and the called party The system and method of settlement amounts are presented on the screen.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of signing up for a service subscriber of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a mobile communication prepaid charging method of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of charging a talkable time of the present invention.

5 is a configuration diagram of an essential part of the system of the present invention.

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

1, 2, 3: Member Terminal 4: Billing and Certificate Server

5: CTI switch and intelligent network switch 6: Calling terminal

7: called terminal

10: exchange communication module 20: subscriber authentication module

30: charging module before currency 40: actual charging module

41: subscriber call history DB 50: charge charge module

51: charge charge history DB 60: member information DB

Hereinafter will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for the configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication prepaid billing system using a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the service subscriber station (1) (2) (3) equipped with the Internet communication means and the Internet through the management of a separate billing account and the telephone service agreement with the mobile operator and the toll free service agreement The billing and authentication server 4 of the service provider connected to the subscriber terminal, and the CTI switch and intelligent network switch 5 of the mobile communication provider connected to the network with the billing and authentication server 4 (hereinafter referred to as "intelligent network exchange"). ), A calling terminal 6 and a called terminal 7 which are mobile communication subscribers who connect to the intelligent network switch 5 and receive a prepaid billing service from the billing and authentication server 4, and other mobile communication providers. And a receiving terminal (8), (9) of the wired communication service provider.

As can be seen from the configuration of Figure 1, the system of the present invention is a mobile service provider (intelligent network switch) and a mobile service subscriber (subscriber terminal, originating and receiving terminal) and a service provider operating a separate billing account (billing and authentication server) It consists of.

The reason why the Internet network is in the system configuration of the present invention is to provide a more convenient user accessibility in order for a subscriber to directly apply for a service subscription and increase his / her call amount.

An exchange for using the system of the present invention may use an intelligent network exchange or a CTI exchange of a mobile communication provider, and both functions are the same, but may be selectively used according to the current mobile communication network configuration.

The service provider side is assigned a telephone number, for example, 080-XXX-XXXX, that is a non-billing target phone number between the mobile communication providers from the mobile communication provider. The service provider receives the 080 service request from a mobile communication subscriber through a network such as the Internet, registers the applicant's mobile terminal number and password, assigns the 080 call number, and purchases a prepaid time for the call. In order to make a prepaid billing server call, the subscriber registered with the service accesses the mobile communication provider's intelligent network switch 5 at the number 080-XXX-XXXX provided by the service he subscribes to, and the intelligent network switch 5 receives the Receives authentication by inquiring about the available time for the mobile communication subscriber terminal number (automatically transmitted from the mobile communication operator exchange or registered by the user) received at the billing and authentication server 4, etc. The call is transferred by requesting the desired number of the called terminal. The service subscriber can talk within the amount paid by the service subscriber, and the call is disconnected when the talk time exceeds the registered talk time.

2 is an embodiment of a prepaid billing service method according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart of a process of applying for membership to a service provider by a person who wants to receive a service.

A mobile communication subscriber connecting to a server of the service provider through a network such as the Internet by using a computer equipped with a communication means such as an internet (S10);

Applying for a prepaid billing service member at the service provider's website (S20);

Performing a membership registration process and inputting a mobile communication terminal number to a service provider's website (S30);

The service provider inquires whether or not to register the password (S40),

When it is confirmed in the password registration inquiry step that the member applicant wants to register a password, the member applicant inputs a password (S50);

Confirming by re-entering the password (S60);

The service provider granting the membership (S70);

(S80) the service provider grants the called party toll-free phone number to the subscribed member;

The member includes a step (S90) to purchase the available time from the service provider.

The step of allowing the service provider to register is a step of confirming a defect such as dual registration of the inputted mobile communication terminal.

In addition, the subscriber purchases the available call time from the service provider, which registers the call amount limit to be paid and purchases the price through electronic payment, credit card payment, and the like.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a prepaid billing service method of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the subscriber subscribing to the prepaid billing service accesses the mobile communication switch using the representative number assigned to his mobile communication terminal (S100);

Performing a call transfer from the mobile communication switch to an intelligent network switch (S110);

Accessing the billing and authentication server at the intelligent network exchange to query subscriber information (S120);

(S130) determining whether the representative number received from the billing and authentication server and the number of the subscriber's mobile communication terminal match the registered details;

If it is determined in step S130 does not match the step of guiding the prepaid billing service member registration (S140),

If it is confirmed in step (S130) to match the step of transmitting authentication to the intelligent network switch (S150),

Inquiring the number of the called terminal to the calling terminal in the intelligent network exchange receiving the authentication information (S160);

Inputting a number of a called terminal in the calling terminal (S170);

Inquiring, by the intelligent network exchange, the available time of the called terminal to the charging and authentication server (S180);

Calculating the available time of the called terminal by the charging and authentication server and transmitting the calculated time to the intelligent network switch (S190);

Converting the call from the intelligent network switch that checks the available time of the called terminal to the called terminal (S200);

Performing a call between the calling terminal and the called terminal (S210);

Determining whether the callable time of the called terminal is exceeded from the intelligent network switch (S220);

If the call time is not exceeded, it is determined whether to continue the call and if the call continues, the step S210 is performed, and if it is determined that the call is interrupted, the step of transmitting the call history billing and authentication server to be described later (S250) is performed. And step (S230),

Stopping the call in the intelligent network switch when it is determined that the callable time has been exceeded (S240);

In step S250, the intelligent network exchange transmits a call history to the billing and authentication server.

As can be seen from the description of the flow chart, in the service method of the present invention, a user who subscribes to a service accesses a registered number 080-XXX-XXXX. If you are a registered terminal, you can make a call. If you are not a registered terminal, you cannot make a call. If you registered your password when you applied for subscription, you can enter your password on your device to authenticate your password. When the authentication is completed, the subscriber may re-enter the desired calling party number and if the called number is not the outgoing call number, the subscriber may call. Call time is limited to the amount already paid.

In the above process, the billing method for the service follows a prepaid billing method. The prepaid billing method is a service that allows a caller to make a call only within a corresponding time after calculating a time when a caller enters a called phone number and calls the user with the available balance of the called number. In this case, if the call exceeds the available time, the call is disconnected. If the call is interrupted within the call limit time, the call charge is calculated from the available balance before the call by calculating the call charge for the talked time. Means.

In this case, when the 080 service is used, the caller is charged in the form of a caller's bill. Therefore, the operator who opened the 080 number bears the call charge. The burden of such a carrier adopts the operator settlement method between the carriers, and provides a system that can pay the user's call charges using the service by the settlement method.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a service subscriber charges his available time.

A service subscriber accessing the billing and authentication server through the Internet through a computer or the like (S300);

Inputting a terminal number, a representative number, and a password to the charging and authentication server (S310);

In step S320, the subscriber queries his / her own available time for calling,

The subscriber inputs a desired available time for charging the available time (S330);

Paying an amount corresponding to the charging time input by the subscriber (S340);

In step S350, the charging and authentication server charges the callable time of the subscriber.

The process of charging the callable time is configured to allow a member who subscribes to the 080 service to charge his / her callable amount via the Internet. The charging method for the available call time is accessed through the Internet to register their own terminal number, their access number and password, and query their own available amount of money. The service subscriber may enter and recharge his or her credit card information, increase through a bank transfer, or pay a fee through various payment methods commonly used on the Internet in order to increase the limit of the available amount of money.

5 is a schematic structural diagram of a billing and authentication server which is a main part used in the system and method of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, an exchange communication module 10 connected to an intelligent network switch of a mobile communication operator, a subscriber authentication module 20 for authentication of a service subscriber, a pre-call charging module 30 and an actual charging module 40, the subscriber call history DB 41 connected to the actual billing module 40, the call charge charging module 50 for the subscriber to charge a callable time, and the call charge charging module 50 Call charge charge history DB 51 and the member information DB (60).

As can be seen in Figure 5, the authentication and billing server of the present invention includes five core software modules. In addition, the authentication and billing server is to be interworked with other systems using the Internet and intelligent network switch as an external system.

In FIG. 5, the switch communication module 10 is a module that is in charge of the interface between the switch and the authentication and billing server, receives data from the switch, and authenticates the subscriber authentication module 20, the billing module 30 before and after the call. It delivers the information to the actual charging module 40 and delivers the result to the exchange.

The subscriber authentication module 20 receives the representative access number, subscriber terminal number and password transmitted by the exchange from the switch communication module 10 and checks whether the terminal number is registered in the service subscriber member information DB 60 and the result. To the exchange communication module 10.

The pre-call billing module 30 receives the subscriber terminal number and the called phone number from the switchboard communication module 10 to determine a call time that can be made with a callable amount of the corresponding terminal registered in the member information DB 60. After the calculation, transfer the available time to the exchange.

After the call, the actual billing module 40 receives the subscriber terminal number, the called phone number, the call start time, the call time, and whether the call is completed from the exchange communication module 10, and then calculates the actual call charge. The call charges recorded and calculated in the call history DB 41 are subtracted from the callable amount of the member information DB 60.

The call charge charging module 50 receives a terminal number and a password from an accessor via the Internet and checks whether it is registered in the member information DB 60 and receives the chargeable amount confirmed through the Internet. It registers in DB51, and raises a call charge and raises the callable amount of the member information DB60.

In addition, the member information DB 60 includes information such as access representative number, subscriber terminal number, subscriber, password, callable amount of service subscriber.

In addition, the subscriber call history DB (41) is a data storing the basis of the call that the service subscriber is actually connected to the call, the file contains information such as subscriber terminal number, called phone number, call start time, call time, call completion or not; It includes.

In addition, the call charge DB 51 is a file for storing information that the service subscriber has increased the call limit, and includes information such as a terminal number, a charging date, a charge amount, a charging method, a charging medium number, and the like.

The system and method of the present invention described above has described, for example, a method in which a caller registers his own terminal and pays for the call cost to the registered terminal by using the 080 service (recipient charging service). The 080 service is a generic term for a caller non-billing service that a caller does not pay, and does not necessarily refer to a 080 number, but may include all types of caller non-billing numbers.

In addition, the caller uses the 080 service because the terminal owner cannot call a general telephone number and uses the service using a separate access number of 080. By using the 080 connection method, the same service effect as the service method of the present invention can be obtained by prepaid or postpaid method. Therefore, all service methods for charging the caller's terminal number using the 080 number are performed. Naturally, examples are included in the technical scope of the present invention.

In addition, as another embodiment of the present invention, a method of registering subscribers of an intelligent network service through the Internet and paying a callable amount for a prepaid call using electronic commerce or the like may be provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively support an additional callable service for a customer receiving a mobile phone service by using a product called a flat-rate billing service. In general, the purpose of the flat-hour billing service is often a limitation on call charges. This is because there are many cases where the person who pays the call charge and the person who wants to make a real call are different. If you provide a supplementary service that allows you to pay additional charges for toll charges for customers who use this flat-rate billing method, the purpose of the service is to control the call charge limit through third parties, and self-payment for additional calls. By adopting the method, it is possible to effectively compensate for the problem of the flat rate charging service.

Claims (17)

A service subscriber terminal equipped with an internet communication means, A billing and authentication server of a service provider connected to the subscriber terminal through the Internet, which manages a separate billing account and has a telephone service agreement with a mobile carrier; An intelligent network switch of a mobile communication service provider connected to a network with the charging and authentication server; A calling terminal and a called terminal, which are mobile communication subscribers, which make a call by accessing the intelligent network switch and receive a prepaid billing service from the billing and authentication server, The service subscriber terminal accesses the billing and authentication server through the Internet, receives a called party's toll-free number, purchases a callable time, and connects to the intelligent network switch with the called party's toll-free number when a call is requested. The mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that by querying the available time in the billing and authentication server to connect the call of the calling terminal and the called terminal to the call within the limit of the available call time. The mobile communication prepaid billing system according to claim 1, wherein the billing and authentication server includes a phone number which is a non-billing target between the mobile communication providers granted from the mobile communication providers. The mobile communication prepaid billing system according to claim 1, wherein the service subscriber can charge the available time by accessing the billing and authentication server through the Internet to the subscriber terminal. The system of claim 1, wherein the billing and authentication server comprises: a switch communication module connected to an intelligent network switch of a mobile communication operator, a subscriber authentication module for authentication of a service subscriber, a pre-call charging module and a post-call actual charging module, and the actual A mobile communication comprising a subscriber call history DB connected to a charging module, a call charge charging module for charging a callable time by a subscriber, a call charge detail DB connected to the call charge charging module, and a member information DB. Prepaid Billing System. The communication module of claim 4, wherein the exchange communication module is a module that is in charge of the interface between the intelligent network exchanger and the charging and authentication server, receives data from the intelligent network exchanger, and transmits the information to the subscriber authentication module, the pre-call charging module, and the actual charging module after the call. The mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that for performing the function to deliver the result to the intelligent network switch. The method according to claim 4, wherein the subscriber authentication module receives the representative access number, subscriber terminal number and password delivered by the intelligent network exchange from the switch communication module to determine whether the terminal number registered in the service subscriber member information DB and the result Mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that for transmitting to the exchange communication module. The switch of claim 4, wherein the pre-call charging module receives the subscriber terminal number and the called telephone number from the switch communication module, calculates a talk time available for the callable amount of the corresponding terminal registered in the member information DB, and then switches Mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that for delivering a callable time. The method according to claim 4, wherein the actual billing module after the call receives the subscriber terminal number, the called phone number, the call start time, the call time, whether the call is completed from the switchboard communication module, and calculates the actual call charge. Mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that the call charges recorded and calculated in the history DB is subtracted from the callable amount of the member information DB. The method of claim 4, wherein the call charge charging module receives a terminal number and a password from an accessor via the Internet and checks whether it is registered in the member information DB, and receives the chargeable amount confirmed through the Internet. The mobile communication prepaid billing system, characterized in that for registering in the call, and increasing the callable amount of the member information DB. The mobile communication prepaid billing system according to claim 4, wherein the member information DB includes information such as a service representative's access representative number, a subscriber's terminal number, a member, a password, and a callable amount. The method according to claim 4, wherein the subscriber call history DB is a data storing the basis of the call that the service subscriber actually connected to the call, the file contains information such as subscriber terminal number, called phone number, call start time, call time, call completion, etc. Mobile communication prepaid billing system comprising a. The method of claim 4, wherein the call charge DB is a file for storing information that the service subscriber has increased the call limit of the service subscriber, and includes information such as the terminal number, the charging date, the charge amount, the charging method, the charging medium number, etc. Mobile communication prepaid billing system. A prepaid billing service method comprising a billing and authentication server of a service provider operating an intelligent network switch of a mobile communication operator and a subscriber terminal, a calling and a receiving terminal of a mobile communication subscriber, and a separate billing account. Accessing the mobile communication switch using the representative number assigned to the mobile communication terminal by the subscriber who has subscribed to the prepaid billing service; Transferring a call from the mobile communication switch to an intelligent network switch; Querying the subscriber information by accessing the billing and authentication server in the intelligent network switch; Determining whether the representative number received from the billing and authentication server and the number of the subscriber's mobile communication terminal match the registered details; Guiding the subscription of a prepaid billing service member if it is determined that the subscriber information is inconsistent; Transmitting an authentication to the intelligent network switch when it is determined to match at the subscriber information determination step; Inquiring the number of the called terminal to the calling terminal in the intelligent network exchange receiving the authentication information; Inputting a number of a called terminal in the calling terminal; Querying, by the intelligent network exchange, the available time of the called terminal to the charging and authentication server; Calculating, by the charging and authentication server, a callable time of the called terminal and transmitting it to the intelligent network switch; Switching the call from the intelligent network switch that checks the available time of the called terminal to the called terminal; Performing a call between the calling terminal and the called terminal; Determining whether the called terminal time is exceeded from the intelligent network switch; Stopping the call in the intelligent network switch when it is determined that the callable time has been exceeded; And transmitting the call history to the billing and authentication server in the intelligent network switch. The mobile communication prepaid billing method of claim 13, further comprising the step of subscribing a service subscriber through the Internet. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the joining step comprises: a mobile communication subscriber connecting to a server of the service provider through a network such as the Internet by a computer equipped with a communication means such as the Internet; Applying for membership in a prepaid billing service at the service provider's website; Performing a membership registration process and entering a mobile terminal number on a service provider's website; The service provider inquiring whether or not to register the password, When the member applicant confirms that the user wants to register a password in the password registration inquiry step, the member applicant inputs a password; Re-enter the password to confirm it; Authorizing the membership by the service provider; The service provider giving a called party toll-free number to the subscribed member; And the member purchasing a callable time from a service provider. The mobile communication prepaid billing method of claim 13, further comprising the step of a service subscriber charging a callable time through the Internet. The method of claim 16, wherein the chargeable time charging step includes the steps of: a service subscriber accessing the billing and authentication server through the Internet through a computer; Inputting a terminal number, a representative number, and a password to the charging and authentication server; The subscriber viewing the current available time of his call, A subscriber inputting a desired talk time for charging the talk time; Paying an amount corresponding to the charging time input by the subscriber; And charging the input subscriber's callable time at the billing and authentication server.