KR20020018991A - System and method for imposing a differential rate according to utilization a wireless network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and system for applying a differential billing to the use of a wireless Internet is provided to inform a kind of desired information to a system and differentially levy a use charge of the wireless network according to a kind of use information. CONSTITUTION: A communication network management unit(122) is combined with a user terminal(110) through a communication network for receiving service selection information and billing basic information from the user terminal(110). A billing data providing unit(126) stores at least one billing rate information, receives billing basic information from the communication network management unit(122), and retrieves billing rate information corresponding to received billing basic information. An additional service unit(124) receives service selection information from the communication network management unit(122), sets a contents system so that the user terminal(110) is combined with the contents system corresponding to the service selection information through the communication network, and generates service use item information of a user. A billing process unit(128) receives billing rate information from the billing data providing unit(126), receives service use item information from the additional service unit(124), and generates billing data using billing rate information and service use item information.

Description

TECHNICAL AND METHOD FOR IMPOSING A DIFFERENTIAL RATE ACCORDING TO UTILIZATION A WIRELESS NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a method and system for applying differential charging for wireless Internet use, and more particularly, to a method and system for applying differential charging for wireless internet use, which can charge the wireless network fee according to each information.

As technology advances, many people use the Internet using personal computers, and communication technology has developed to the extent that the Internet can be used even with a mobile communication terminal, and the restrictions on places for using the Internet are gradually disappearing.

In other words, the flow of information and communication is moving toward the "internet of the street" in the direction of combining the mobile communication terminal and the Internet.

Therefore, a user who wants to use the Internet using a mobile communication terminal can use the Internet anytime and anywhere, and can download desired materials through the connected Internet.

However, the charge of wireless Internet services provided by mobile communication service providers is a burdensome reality for general users. The wireless Internet usage fee using the data channel does not have a big difference compared to the voice call fee, and the wireless Internet content fee is more expensive in the case where additional information usage fee is included.

Therefore, in order to enable a large number of people to use the Internet service using a mobile communication terminal, a usage fee charging method such as a flat fee method or a usage time charging method has been attempted.

However, since the conventional usage fee charging method is a method of charging wireless network usage fees (for example, call charges, packet charges, etc.) and information usage fees to general users at the same time, the user uses two usage fees to use specific information. There was a problem to pay to the mobile carrier.

This problem, that is, the burden of the usage fee has become a major obstacle to the spread of wireless Internet service, so that the mobile communication service provider must continuously develop various fee products of additional services to secure users in order to activate the wireless Internet. There was this.

In addition, in the case of using a conventional usage charging method, the physical network system constituting the wireless network can only measure the amount of communication used by the user, and cannot determine what kind or quality of information is requested by the user. There was a problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to inform the system of the purpose of the connection, that is, the type of information desired to use when the user connects to the wireless communication network using a mobile communication terminal, and to charge the wireless network fee according to the type of user use information. The present invention provides a method and system for applying differential charging for wireless Internet use.

Another object of the present invention is that the use of the wireless communication network is charged differently according to the type of information, so that users can easily access the necessary information using the wireless communication network and apply differential charging to the use of the wireless Internet, which can also expect economic advantages. It is to provide a method and system.

Another object of the present invention is to solve the complaints of content providers or mobile operators that inevitably had to reduce the size of the content because the user avoids the burden of call charges due to the increase in the download time, even if the content size can provide a high quality service The present invention provides a method and system for applying differential charging for wireless Internet use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a user with an economic burden by automatically charging a call charge to a company regardless of whether it is a personal mobile phone or a mobile phone that is rented by a company. It is to provide a method and system for applying differential charging for the use of wireless Internet that can be resolved.

Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of continuously developing various fee products for additional services in the mobile communication service provider side to secure a large number of users, and to use a wireless Internet that enables various strategies to be established. It is to provide a method and system for applying differential charging.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a differential charging system for wireless Internet use according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a protocol stack of TCP / IP for applying a differential charging system for wireless Internet use in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

Figure 2b is a diagram illustrating a session for each protocol used in the differential charging system according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a PPP ID transmission method using a browser in using the differential charging system according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a prototype of a function to be added in a PPP ID delivery method using a terminal platform in using a differential charging system according to the use of a wireless Internet according to the present invention.

5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a method for registering charging rate data for performing a differential charging method according to the use of wireless Internet according to the present invention.

6 is a data flow diagram illustrating a differential charging method according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention.

7 is a data flow diagram illustrating a user authentication method for performing a wireless Internet service according to the present invention.

8 is a data flow diagram illustrating a method of changing the charging rate in real time to apply the differential charging method according to the present invention.

9 is an exemplary view of a screen display for changing the charging rate according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: user terminal

120: mobile communication service system

122: communication network management unit

124: Additional Service Department

126: billing data provider

128: billing processing unit

130: content providing system

210: PCF (Packet Control Function)

220: PDSN (Packet Data Serving Node)

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, a service fee including a call fee and an information fee to a user who uses a data communication service through a communication network to receive any service provided by at least one content provider. A method of generating billing data for charging a service, the method comprising: pre-registering billing rate information respectively set for at least one service, and first service selection information and billing basis for the first service from a user terminal through a communication network; Receiving information (for example, may include first identifier information), retrieving charging rate information corresponding to the charging basic information from the registered charging rate information, and from the user terminal. A first service termination request or a second document for the first service Receiving second service selection information for a service, calculating first service usage history information for use of the first service by the user, and using the first service usage history information and the billing rate information. A method of applying a differential charging for wireless internet use is provided, the method comprising generating the charging data for the user using a system, an apparatus, and a record enabling the performance of the differential charging application method for the wireless internet use. A medium is provided.

The charge rate information may include first identifier information, call charge information, information charge information, and the like, and the call charge information and the information charge charge information may be differently applied according to the first identifier information.

In addition, the method of applying the differential billing for the use of the wireless Internet comprises the steps of checking whether the user authentication is required to provide the first service, if the user authentication is required, sending a request for authentication information to the user terminal; Receiving the authentication information from the user terminal, checking whether the received authentication information is valid, and if the authentication information is valid, the content system and the communication network providing the first service by the user terminal. It may further comprise setting to be coupled through.

The method of applying differential charging for the use of the wireless Internet may include receiving second predetermined identifier information from a user terminal, checking whether the second identifier information is valid, and validating the second identifier information. In this case, the method may further include granting an additional benefit to the user, and the additional benefit may be applied as a discount for the call fee or the information usage fee of the user.

In addition, the method of applying the differential billing for the use of the wireless Internet comprises the step of receiving charge rate update request information from a content system providing any service through a communication network, and using the received charge rate update request information to the content system The method may further include updating and registering charging rate information registered in advance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing any service provided by at least one content provider to a user who wants to use a data communication service through a communication network. Receiving first service selection information corresponding to a first service, setting the user terminal to be coupled to a content system corresponding to the first service selection information through a communication network, and from the user terminal to the communication network manager. Receiving a first service termination request or second service selection information for a second service for the first service, and calculating first service usage history information for use of the first service of the user; Steps, the first service usage history information to the communication network To provide wireless data service to perform a process comprising the step of transmitting to the charging processing unit and, an apparatus and a recording medium is provided for enabling the implementation of the art perform a wireless data service method.

The wireless data service performing method may include: checking whether user authentication is required to provide the first service; if user authentication is required, transmitting a request for authentication information to the network manager; and authenticating from the network manager. Receiving information, checking whether the received authentication information is valid, and if the authentication information is valid, setting the user terminal to be coupled with a content system providing the first service through a communication network. It may further comprise a step.

The wireless data service performing method includes receiving charging rate update request information from a content system providing any service through a communication network, and transmitting the received charging rate update request information to the charging processing system or the charging data providing unit. It may further comprise a step.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, billing for imposing a service fee including a call charge and an information fee to a user using a data communication service through a communication network in order to receive any service provided by at least one content provider. A method of providing data, the method comprising: receiving charge rate information (eg, first identifier information, call charge information, information charge charge information, etc.) from an additional service unit or a charge processing unit, and receiving the received charge rate information Storing; receiving charging basic information (for example, second identifier information corresponding to the service, etc.) from the communication network manager; and charging including first identifier information corresponding to the second identifier information. Retrieving rate information, and processing the retrieved charging rate information In the charging data service comprises the step is provided to transmit, there is provided a data providing method of the art billing apparatus and a recording medium capable of executing.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for charging a service fee including a call charge and an information charge to a user who uses a data communication service through a communication network to receive any service provided by at least one content provider. A method of generating billing data, the method comprising: receiving billing rate information of a service used by the user from a billing data provider; and receiving service usage history information of any service use of the user from an additional service unit; And a step of generating the billing data for the user by using the billing rate information and the service usage history information. The billing data generation method is provided. Provided by the device and record carrier do.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals for the same apparatus will be applied.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a differential charging system for wireless Internet use according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the differential charging system for using the wireless Internet may include a user terminal 110, a mobile communication service system 120, and a content providing system 130.

Although only a mobile communication terminal is illustrated as a type of the user terminal 110 in FIG. 1, a device having a communication function, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), may be connected to the mobile communication service system 120 through a communication network. If so, the same can be applied without any limitation.

The mobile communication service system 120 may include a communication network manager 122, an additional service unit 124, a billing data provider 126, a billing processor 128, and the like.

The communication network manager 122 may request a service provision request from a user terminal 120 coupled through a communication network and an identification code (hereinafter, referred to as PPP ID) for each service (for example, an E-MAIL service or an e-commerce service). And a corresponding service performance data from the additional service unit 124 to be transmitted to the user terminal 110, and transmits the PPP ID to the billing processor 128.

The communication network manager 122 may include a network connection unit such as a packet control function (PCF), a terminal manager such as session control and mobility management (SCMM), a packet data transmission unit such as a packet data serving node (PDSN), and packet data (PDGN). IP subscriber processing unit such as a gateway node), subscriber address management unit such as a domain name server (DNS), and the like.

The additional service unit 124 manages the external content providing system 130 that provides various services requested by the user terminal 110 (of course, when there is a service provided in the mobile communication service system 120, Service management system), a charge rate for each PPP ID, and a user authentication process.

The billing data providing unit 126 receives and manages registration rate data for each PPP ID received from the billing processing unit 128, and then receives any PPP ID information from the network management unit 122. The device performs the function of transmitting the billing rate data registered in advance to correspond to the information to the billing processing unit (128).

The billing processor 128 transmits billing rate data received from the supplementary service unit 124 to the billing data providing unit 126, and uses history information and billing data providing unit 126 received from the supplementary service unit 124. The apparatus calculates and manages a communication fee to be charged to a user by using billing rate data received from the user.

The communication network manager 122, the additional service unit 124, the billing data provider 126, and the billing processor 128 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will be easily understood for each function. Could be.

The content providing system 130 is a system of a content provider that provides data or a service that a user wants to be provided using a user terminal 110 coupled with a communication network, and is different from the mobile communication service system 120. It is coupled through a wired communication network.

FIG. 2A illustrates a protocol stack of TCP / IP for applying a differential charging system for wireless Internet use according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B illustrates a differential charging system according to the wireless Internet use according to the present invention. A diagram illustrating a session for each protocol used.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a protocol stack of TCP / IP applied to a differential charging system for wireless Internet use according to the present invention is shown. That is, in the present invention, an application on a browser and a user terminal can generally perform data communication using TCP / IP, and the protocol stack of TCP / IP is as follows.

The protocol stack of TCP / IP applicable to the present invention is "Physical Layer-RLP (Radio Link Protocol)-PPP (Point to Point Protocol)-Internet Protocol (IP)-Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) , UDP (User Datagram Protocol) ", and the like.

The physical layer is the lowest layer in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) protocol reference model defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO), which is the electrical and mechanical layer for hardware access to physical transmission media. In this case, functional procedures are defined.

RLP (Radio Link Protocol) is used in the radio section between the mobile terminal and the base station to provide reliable data service on the radio channel. NACK (Negative Acknowledge) requesting retransmission of the error data among the transmitted data. Scheme to provide a reliable wireless channel.

Point to Point Protocol (PPP) is a communication protocol used when connecting to the Internet with a high-speed modem through a leased line or a public line, and IP (Internet Protocol) can be used by connecting communication networks operated independently of each other. It is a rule that connects these independent networks in order to make sure that they exist.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the commonly used network protocols. In the case of data transmission through the network, each data is cut and transmitted in units of packets. If the above-mentioned IP is responsible for moving data packets from one place to another, TCP manages the flow of data. And verify that the data is correct.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is one of the higher IP protocols used in TCP / IP networks and is an Internet standard transport layer protocol defined in STD 6 and RFC 768. In UDP, data is not divided into segments as in TCP. Instead, data is transmitted in user datagram units. Since the size of a datagram is not defined, a user can transmit a datagram of any size as a UDP packet.

2B, a session for each protocol used in the differential charging system according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention is shown.

That is, the user terminal 110 performs session establishment with a communication network connection unit such as a packet control function (PCF) 210 using a physical layer and a radio link protocol (RLP), and the user terminal 110 and the PDSN ( A packet data transmitter such as a packet data serving node (220) is configured for session using PPP.

In addition, the user terminal 110 and the additional service unit 124 of the mobile communication service system 120 establishes a session using TCP / IP or UDP, and wireless data communication using TCP / IP or UDP is used to establish a communication network. It is possible only after a PPP session is established with the PDSN 220.

In addition, applications for the user to use the wireless Internet by using a mobile communication terminal are applications on a browser and a terminal platform (for example, JAVA, BREW, GVM, etc.). It will be described how to pass the ID.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a PPP ID transmission method using a browser in using a differential charging system using a wireless Internet according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 310, the mobile communication service system 120 checks whether a PPP session connection is established through the communication network with the user terminal 110.

The user inputs the user's ID and password prior to using the wireless data communication service by using a browser installed in the user terminal 110 (for example, a notebook computer, etc.), and the mobile communication service system for the ID and password. Obtaining the approval from 120 enables the use of the wireless data communication service using the mobile communication service system 120.

At this time, if the ID and password are valid, the PPP session is established between the user terminal 110 and the mobile communication service system 120. Hereinafter, the ID and password will be referred to as PPP ID and PPP password.

If the PPP session connection is made as a result of the check in step 310, the mobile communication service system 120 proceeds to step 320 in which the INFORM ID to be serially connected is received from the user terminal 110 in which the PPP session connection is currently established. Check whether it is same as ID.

When a user requests a wireless data communication service using a browser installed on the user terminal 110, a Hyper-Text or a Site-Link (Hyper-Link) is a Tag statement that creates a Hyper function that is a characteristic of the Internet. In addition, a new attribute is added to the Anchor (Hyper) Tag, which is a tag statement created when a multimedia connection (Hyper-Media) is made, and the user's PPP ID and PPP password are transmitted to the mobile communication service system 120.

Originally, the format of the Anchor Tag statement that allows users to access a website (SITE-LINK) that they want to access is "<A HREF=" SITE-URL"> ~ </A>". However, an attribute including PPP ID and PPP password information is added thereto.

For example, the PPP ID entered and transmitted by the user using the user terminal 110 is "TestID", the PPP password is "TestPassword", and the Internet website that the user wants to access is "http: // www. In the case of magicn.com ", the Anchor Tag statement is generated in the form" <href = "www.magicn.com" INFORM_ID = "TestID" INFORM_PASSWORD = "TestPassword"> MagicN </a> ".

The mobile communication service system 120 checks in step 320 whether the PPP ID that the user initially inputs to use the wireless data communication service is identical to the INFORM ID included in the Anchor Tag statement.

If the INFORM ID and the PPP ID match as a result of the check in step 320, the process proceeds to step 330 to enable the user to perform the wireless data communication service requested.

If there is no PPP session connection between the user terminal 110 and the mobile communication service system 120, the mobile communication service system 120 proceeds to step 340, and enters the INFORM ID and INFORM password. PPP Negotiation is performed for PPP session connection with the user terminal, and the generated PPP ID and PPP password are transmitted to the user terminal 110.

In this case, the INFORM ID and the INFORM password included in the Anchor Tag statement may be included as information related to the PPP ID and PPP password received before the end of the PPP session from the user terminal 110, and no related information exists. If not, it may include arbitrarily given INFORM ID and INFORM password information according to a method such as granting according to the connection order.

Thereafter, in step 350, the mobile communication service system 120 establishes a PPP session with the user terminal 110 through a communication network, and proceeds to step 330 to perform a service for a wireless data communication service requested by the user.

In addition, referring back to step 320, if the INFORM ID and the INFORM password do not match as a result of the check in step 320, the process proceeds to step 340 and the same steps as described above. Of course, this may include ending the PPP session that is currently connected before proceeding to step 340.

4 is a diagram illustrating a prototype of a function to be added in a PPP ID delivery method using a terminal platform in using the differential charging system according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention.

An application on a terminal platform according to the present invention communicates by configuring a user datagram protocol (UDP) on a TCP / IP for a service to be implemented by an application without using a general protocol and language such as HTTP / HTML of a browser.

In other words, unlike browsers that can present multiple service provision screens to users, applications on the terminal platform use a protocol for implementing a single service. General purpose processing using text) language added to document data is impossible.

This can be easily understood by referring to the configuration of the screen display displayed on the display unit in the mobile communication terminal when using the wireless Internet service using the mobile communication terminal.

In this case, each service menu item (generally listed in text form) is assigned a unique (or corresponding PPP ID) and PPP password (or PPP ID only), respectively, and the user is assigned to the user terminal 110. In the case of selecting a certain service menu item by using a), the PPP ID and PPP password (or PPP ID only) assigned to the service menu item are transmitted to the mobile communication service system 120 through the communication network together with the service execution request transmission. Is sent. This method can of course also be applied to the PPP ID delivery method using the browser described above.

Therefore, in such cases, the application program interface (API) provided by the platform so that applications on the platform can be commonly used (API) is a set of subroutines or functions that a program or application can call to the operating system for processing. Add a function to change the PPP ID and PPP password to enable the wireless data communication service.

Referring to FIG. 4, a prototype of a function to be added in a PPP ID delivery method using a terminal platform is illustrated. Unlike a case of using a browser, a specific service is provided to a user accessing a wireless communication network using an application on a platform. To provide, you simply need to set or change the PPP ID using the following prototype (prototype).

Prototypes of functions to be added in using the PPP ID delivery method using the terminal platform according to the present invention are "Void GetPPP_ID (char * sID, char * sPassword)" and "Boolean SetPPP_ID (char * sID, char *). sPassword) ".

"Void GetPPP_ID (char * sID, char * sPassword)" is a function that reads the currently set PPP ID and PPP password, and "Boolean SetPPP_ID (char * sID, char * sPassword)" is used to set a new PPP ID and PPP password. It is a function.

The reason for changing the PPP ID or the like using the function described above or using a separate PPP ID in the wireless data communication system is as described above, informing the system of the purpose of the connection, that is, the type of usage information. In order to be applicable, this may be equally applicable to the PPP ID delivery method using the browser described above.

Hereinafter, a method of differentially charging a service fee according to a PPP ID and / or PPP password assigned to each service and a method of changing and applying a PPP ID and / or PPP password will be described with reference to related drawings. However, in describing a method of differentially charging a service fee according to the PPP ID and / or the PPP password with reference to the related drawings, only the PPP ID will be described.

5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a method for registering charging rate data for performing a differential charging method according to the use of wireless Internet according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in operation 510, the management of at least one content providing system 130 (that is, combined with the content providing system 130 through a communication network to perform an authentication operation for allowing a user to access the communication network) is performed. Rate information for each PPP ID is registered in the service unit 510.

For example, a method of different rate information for each PPP ID is described. For example, when the PPP ID is "000", the data is free of call charges and the information fee is free (for example, advertisement data), and the PPP ID is "001." "If the call charge is free and data charges only (i.e. user call charges are paid by the content provider). If the PPP ID is" 010 ", call charges are paid but information charges are free. For example, data provided by a mobile communication service provider, etc.), and when the PPP ID is "011", may be applied to data in which both a call charge and an information use fee are charged.

In addition, the PPP ID may be set to indicate that the content provider is data that the content provider bears a certain portion of the call charge (eg, 50% of the call charge, etc.) (eg, 150). Can be set.

In addition, even if the PPP ID is designated the same, the charge may be differentially charged using the PPP password received together with the PPP ID. That is, after the primary discount by the portion previously designated by the PPP ID, a method such as providing an additional discount benefit using the PPP password may be used.

In step 520, the additional service unit 124 transmits the rate information for each registered PPP ID to the charging processor 128 through the communication network.

In operation 530, the charging processor 128 transmits the PPP ID rate information received through operation 520 to the charging data provider 126 via the communication network.

In operation 540, the billing data provider 126 stores the rate information for each PPP ID received from the billing processor 128 in a storage unit in the billing data provider 126 or an external storage coupled with the billing data provider 126. Save and register.

The method of registering the charging rate data for the differential charging system according to the present invention can be registered not only through the additional service unit 124, but also directly using the charging data provider 126. Of course.

6 is a data flow diagram illustrating a differential charging method according to the use of the wireless Internet according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a user who wants to use a wireless Internet service using the user terminal 110 transmits a service providing request and charging basic information to the PDSN 220 through a communication network using the user terminal 110 ( Step 610).

The billing basic information transmitted in step 610 refers to a PPP ID and / or PPP password, and the like, and the PPP ID and / or PPP password are included when the user selects an arbitrary service (for example, an e-mail service, etc.). The differential charging method for the user's use of the wireless data communication service using the transmitted and the PPP ID assigned to the service is as described above.

The PDSN 220 transmits the charging basic data received from the user terminal 110 to the charging data provider 126 through the communication network in step 615, and also transmits the service providing request received from the user terminal 110 in step 620. Is transmitted to the additional service unit 124.

The billing data providing unit 126 searches billing rate data corresponding to the PPP ID (and / or PPP password) received from the PDSN 220 among at least one billing rate data registered and managed in advance.

Then, the charging data provider 126 transmits the charging rate data retrieved in step 625 to the charging processor 128 through the communication network.

In addition, the additional service unit 124 receives the service providing request information from the PDSN 220 through step 620, and proceeds to step 635 to perform a service corresponding to the service providing request received from the user terminal 110. . For example, when the user requests a mailing service, the web site providing the mailing service and the user terminal 110 are connected through a communication network.

The additional service unit 124 calculates a service usage history for the user using the wireless data communication service through the user terminal 110 in step 640.

That is, the supplementary service unit 124 determines which service (that is, which web can be determined using the user's International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, telephone number information assigned to the user terminal, etc.) Usage history data including information on whether or not the user has been connected to the site for a certain period of time.

The additional service unit 124 proceeds to step 645 and transmits service usage history information for the user to the accounting processing unit 128 through the communication network.

In step 650, the billing processor 128 generates billing data for the corresponding user using billing rate data received through the billing data provider 126 in step 630 and service usage history information received in step 645. Register.

The operation performed by the charging processing unit 128 through step 650 will be described once again using the above-described example. If the PPP ID of the corresponding service is "000" and the call fee and the information usage fee are set free of charge, the user The billing data for will not contain any billing information (or include a $ 0 information), but if the PPP ID is "001", the call will be free but the information fee will be hourly (or per packet sent). If the amount is charged, the billing data for the user will include only billing information for the information usage fee (or the information that the call charge is 0 won).

Also, even when the call charge is selected free of charge when the PPP ID is "001", the mobile communication service provider may not agree with the content provider in advance (for example, when the content provider pays the full amount of the call charges). You may be provided.

As such, charges may be differentially charged according to the PPP ID through negotiations such as the selection of the PPP ID between the mobile operator and the content provider, and thus the content provider may attract more users and users. It will be able to attract many wireless data communication service users.

7 is a data flow diagram illustrating a user authentication method for performing a wireless Internet service according to the present invention.

The method of performing the wireless data service described above with reference to FIG. 6 has been described only for the method of providing the service requested from the user terminal 110 to the user terminal 110, and now the user is provided to the service with reference to FIG. 7. It will be described how to perform separate steps depending on whether or not you have permission to be provided. Such a method may be applied, for example, to restrict confidential information of a specific company so that only employees of the company may be provided, or restrict access of a specific user such as an adult broadcasting station.

In the description of the method of performing the wireless Internet service with reference to FIG. 7, the parts described with reference to FIG. 6 are not shown in FIG. 7, and description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 710, the user terminal 110 transmits a service provision request to the PDSN 220 through a communication network. Of course, in this case, the billing basic information is also transmitted. However, since this is already described with reference to FIG.

The PDSN 220 transmits the service providing request transmission received from the user terminal 110 to the additional service unit 124 in step 715.

In step 720, the additional service unit 124 determines whether separate authentication is required to remove a certain restriction in order to provide a service corresponding to the service providing request received from the user terminal 110 to the user terminal 110. Check it.

If a separate authentication is required as a result of checking in step 720, the process proceeds to step 725 and transmits a request for authentication information to the PDSN 220. Of course, if no separate authentication is required, the requested service will be provided to the user terminal 110 as shown in step 635 shown in FIG.

The PDSN 220 transmits the authentication information request received from the additional service unit 124 to the user terminal 110 through the communication network in step 730.

In step 735, the user terminal 110 displays an authentication information request message on the display of the user terminal 110 in response to the authentication information request received from the PDSN 220, receives authentication information from the user, and proceeds to step 740. The input authentication information is transmitted to the PDSN 220 through the communication network.

In step 745, the PDSN 220 transmits the authentication information received from the user terminal to the additional service unit 124 through the communication network.

The additional service unit 124 checks the validity of the authentication information received from the PDSN 220 in step 750. If the authentication information is valid, the additional service unit 124 proceeds to step 755 where the user terminal 110 can use the service. Set to However, although not shown in FIG. 7, if the authentication information is not valid, an error message (for example, 'no service authority', etc.) is transmitted to the user terminal 110 and the step ends.

In FIG. 7, the additional service unit 124 illustrates a method of performing a separate authentication operation. In addition, the service for authentication is set so that the PPP ID is distinguished from other services (for example, the PPP ID is' X99 ', etc.).

8 is a data flow diagram illustrating a method of changing a charging rate in real time in order to apply a differential charging method according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an exemplary view of a screen display for changing a charging rate according to the present invention.

An exemplary view of the screen display shown in FIG. 9 will be described together for convenience of understanding in describing the charging rate changing method according to the present invention with reference to FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 810, the content providing system 130 receives charging rate change information from a content provider to change from a charging rate applied to another charging rate.

An example of a screen display for the content provider to input billing rate change information using a computer monitor or the like is illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 9, the charging rate change screen 900 may include a setting information area 910, a setting change area 920, a function button area 930, and the like.

The setting information area 910 is an area in which charging rate information currently set for the content provider is displayed. The URL information of the content providing system 130, the content provider information (eg, a company name, etc.), the current rate information, Additional discount information and the like.

In the current rate information, PPP ID information currently set by the content provider and billing information for the PPP ID (that is, billing information for the call charge and the information usage fee) are displayed.

In the additional discount information, setting information indicating whether the content provider grants a predetermined additional benefit to a user who inputs a predetermined password is displayed. For example, the general user who enters the general password "1234" will be charged the current fee information. However, the predetermined amount of the user who entered the password "4567" which is predetermined for the excellent member, etc. For example, an additional discount rate of 10%, etc. may be additionally granted. Of course, at this time, it may include an authentication procedure using the user information (for example, a phone number, etc.) to grant additional benefits using the password entered by the user.

The setting change area 920 is an area for setting and changing the charging rate setting information provided by the content provider to another charging rate, and the content provider may select whether to further discount using the PPP ID and the PPP password.

When the content provider selects the PPP ID, charging information for the selected PPP ID may be displayed together to facilitate selection of the PPP ID.

The function button area 930 may include a 'send' button, a 'rewrite' button, a 'cancel' button, a 'reserve' button, and the like.

The 'send' button is a button for requesting the content provider to reflect the new charging rate after changing the setting to the desired PPP ID using the setting change area 920.

The 'rewrite' button is used to change the selected charging rate information to the initial state (ie, the default state) when the newly selected charging rate information is to be selected again.

'Cancel' button is a button that can be used when the content provider does not want to change to the new billing rate information.

The 'reservation' button is a button for selecting when to apply the changed setting information when the content provider changes the charge rate setting. In other words, if today's date is January 1, but you want to apply today's billing rate setting from March 1, you can use this button to predefine it.

Referring back to FIG. 9, in step 815, the content providing system 130 transmits the charging rate change information input by the content provider to the additional service unit 124 through the communication network.

The additional service unit 124 transmits the charge rate change information received from the content providing system 130 to the charge processor 128 through the communication network in step 820, and the charge processor 128 transmits the charge rate change information in step 825. The billing data providing unit 126 is transmitted.

The billing data providing unit 126 uses the billing rate change information received from the billing processing unit 128 through step 825 in step 830 (if the billing rate information previously stored does not exist). If not, update by new registration).

In operation 835, the processing result information on the charging rate data update registration using the charging rate change information is transmitted to the charging processing unit 128 through the communication network.

The charging processing unit 128 transmits the processing result information received from the charging data providing unit 126 in step 840 to the additional service unit 124 through the communication network in step 835.

In addition, the additional service unit 124 transmits the processing result information received from the charging processing unit 128 through the communication network to the content providing system 130 through step 840 in step 845 to enable the identification of the content provider.

So far, the method of changing the charging rate according to the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 9. In addition, the following various methods may be applied.

First, the above-described method has described a method of changing the billing rate by using a screen display displayed on a computer monitor. However, the method described above may be similarly applied to a screen display displayed on a display of a mobile communication terminal, that is, a text form. Of course.

Second, in the above-described method, although the charging rate change information is transmitted from the content providing system 130 to change the charging rate, the additional service unit 124 may be transmitted even if the related information is not transmitted from the content providing system 130. Of course, it can be updated directly by using.

Third, in the above-described method, the case where the charging rate information is sequentially transmitted to the additional service unit 124, the charging processing unit 128, and the charging data providing unit 126 in order to change the charging rate has been described. May be directly transmitted from the additional service unit 124 to the charging data provider 126 without passing through the charging processor 128.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention, when a user connects to a wireless communication network using a mobile communication terminal, informs the system of the purpose of the connection, that is, the type of information to be used, and charges the wireless network fee according to the type of user usage information. can do.

In addition, according to the present invention, since a fee for using a wireless communication network is differentially charged according to the type of information, the user can easily access the necessary information using the wireless communication network and can also expect an advantage of economic aspects.

In addition, the present invention can solve the complaints of content providers or mobile operators that inevitably have to reduce the size of the content because the user avoids the burden of call charges due to the increase in download time, even if the content size can provide a higher quality service have.

In addition, in the case of a user (intranet user) who performs business using the wireless Internet, the present invention automatically solves the user's economic burden by allowing a call charge to be charged to the company regardless of whether it is a personal mobile phone or a mobile phone rented by a company. Can be.

In addition, the present invention can reduce the burden of continuously developing a variety of billing products for additional services in the mobile communication service provider side to secure a large number of users, it is possible to establish a variety of strategies.

Claims (18)

A method of generating billing data for charging a service fee, including a call charge and an information fee, to a user who uses a data communication service through a communication network to receive any service provided by at least one content provider. Pre-registering billing rate information, each set for at least one service; Receiving first service selection information and billing basic information for a first service from a user terminal over a communication network, wherein the billing basic information includes at least first identifier information corresponding to the service; Retrieving charging rate information corresponding to the charging basic information from the registered charging rate information; Receiving a first service termination request for the first service or second service selection information for a second service from the user terminal; Calculating first service usage history information on usage of the user in the first service; Generating the billing data for the user using the first service usage history information and the billing rate information; Differential charging application method for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, The charging rate information includes first identifier information, call charge information and information charge information, The call charge billing information and the information charge billing information may be differently applied corresponding to the first identifier information. Differential charging application method for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, Checking whether user authentication is required to provide the first service; If a user authentication is required, transmitting an authentication information request to the user terminal; Receiving authentication information from the user terminal; Checking whether the received authentication information is valid; If the authentication information is valid, setting the user terminal to be coupled through a communication network with a content system providing the first service Differential charging application method for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 1, Receiving predetermined second identifier information from a user terminal; Checking whether the second identifier information is valid; Granting an additional benefit to the user if the second identifier information is valid Include more, The additional benefit is a discount on the call fee or the information usage fee of the user Differential charging application method for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, Receiving charging rate update request information from a content system providing any service through a communication network; Updating and registering the charging rate information registered in advance corresponding to the content system by using the received charging rate updating request information. Differential charging application method for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that it further comprises. The user terminal provides any service provided through at least one content system in conjunction with the communication network manager, the additional service unit, the billing data provider, and the billing processor included in the mobile communication system. In a method that can be performed, Receiving first service selection information corresponding to a first service transmitted from the user terminal from the communication network manager; Setting the user terminal to be coupled to the content system corresponding to the first service selection information through a communication network; Receiving a first service termination request for the first service or second service selection information for a second service transmitted from the user terminal from the communication network manager; Calculating first service usage history information on usage of the user in the first service; Transmitting the first service usage history information to the charging processor through a communication network; Wireless data service performing method comprising a. The method of claim 6, Checking whether user authentication is required to provide the first service; If a user authentication is required, transmitting an authentication information request to the communication network manager; Receiving authentication information from the communication network manager; Checking whether the received authentication information is valid; If the authentication information is valid, setting the user terminal to be coupled through a communication network with a content system providing the first service Wireless data service performing method further comprising. The method of claim 6, Receiving charging rate update request information from the content system providing any service through a communication network; Transmitting the received billing rate update request information to the billing processing system or the billing data provider. Wireless data service performing method further comprising. A memory in which a program is stored; And A processor coupled to the memory to execute the program Including but not limited to: The processor by the program, An additional service performing apparatus, comprising: executing the wireless data service performing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8. 10. A recording medium tangibly embodied and readable by a digital processing device, the program of instructions being executed by the digital processing device, for performing the method of performing a wireless data service according to any one of claims 6 to 8. . The billing data providing unit included in the mobile communication service system is interlocked with the communication network management unit, the additional service unit, and the billing processing unit included in the mobile communication system to receive any service provided by at least one content provider through a communication network. A method of providing billing data for charging a service fee including a call charge and an information fee to a user who uses a data communication service, the method comprising: Receiving charge rate information from the additional service unit or the charge processing unit, wherein the charge rate information includes at least one of first identifier information, call charge information, and information charge rate information; Storing the received billing rate information; Receiving charging basic information from the network management unit, wherein the charging basic information includes at least second identifier information corresponding to the service; Retrieving billing rate information including first identifier information corresponding to the second identifier information; Transmitting the retrieved billing rate information to the billing processor; Billing data providing method comprising a. A memory in which a program is stored; And A processor coupled to the memory to execute the program Including but not limited to: The processor by the program, A charging data providing device, comprising executing the charging data providing method according to claim 11. A recording medium on which a program of instructions that can be executed by a digital processing apparatus is tangibly implemented and can be read by the digital processing apparatus to perform the charging data providing method according to claim 11. The billing processing unit included in the mobile communication service system interworks with the communication network management unit, the billing data providing unit, and the billing processing unit included in the mobile communication system to receive any service provided by at least one content provider through a communication network. A method of generating billing data for charging a service fee including a call charge and an information fee to a user who uses a data communication service, the method comprising: Receiving charging rate information on a service used by the user from the charging data providing unit; Receiving service usage history information on any service use of the user from the additional service unit; Generating the charging data for the user by using the charging rate information and the service usage history information Billing data generation method comprising a. A memory in which a program is stored; And A processor coupled to the memory to execute the program Including but not limited to: The processor by the program, A billing data generation device, comprising executing the billing data generation method according to claim 14. A recording medium on which a program of instructions that can be executed by a digital processing device is tangibly embodied and can be read by the digital processing device to perform the charging data generating method according to claim 14. A system for generating billing data for charging a service fee, including a call charge and an information fee, to a user using a data communication service through a communication network in order to receive any service provided by at least one content provider. A communication network manager coupled to a user terminal through a communication network to receive service selection information and charging basic information from the user terminal; A billing data provider for storing at least one billing rate information, receiving billing basic information from the communication network manager, and searching billing rate information corresponding to the received billing basic information; An additional service unit configured to receive the service selection information from the communication network management unit, set the content system corresponding to the service selection information and the user terminal to be coupled through a communication network, and generate service usage history information of the user; A billing processor configured to receive the billing rate information from the billing data provider and to receive the service usage history information from the additional service unit and to generate billing data using the billing rate information and the service usage history information; Differential charging application system for using the wireless Internet, characterized in that it comprises a. A program of instructions, which can be executed by a digital processing device, is tangibly embodied in order to carry out the differential charging application method for use of the wireless Internet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and is read by the digital processing device. Recordable media.