KR20050088548A - Graded billing system and method for use of portal website of prepaid subscriber - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, after a billing processing device provided between a data service device that is a packet data transmission path and a menu server stores billing calculation basic information and prepaid card subscriber information, a traffic data packet including content data from an arbitrary content providing server is stored. When received, the billing basic information included in the traffic data packet is extracted, and the billing basic information is used to determine whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber. Calculating the content usage fee, and subtracting the calculated content usage fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber in real time to access the portal website of the prepaid card subscriber performing the charging for the use of the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber. On differential charging methods and systems One that, by granting a pre-defined benefits to subscribers who purchase a prepaid card can be the charging rate differential is applied.

Description

Graded billing system and method for use of portal website of prepaid subscriber}

The present invention relates to a differential charging method and system for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber. In particular, a low billing rate is automatically applied when a subscriber having a prepaid card corresponding to the portal website accesses the portal website. The present invention relates to a differential charging method and system for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber.

The development of science and technology and the improvement of the economic level are accelerating the establishment of a wide range of communication networks and communication terminals. A user may use a data transmission / reception service at a fixed location using various communication terminals as well as use a wireless data service using a mobile communication terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA) while moving.

A user using a wireless data service must pay a fee for using the wireless data service, and the standard for calculating a fee varies according to the amount of packet used and the time used, and the fee payment method also varies from a flat fee, a prepaid plan, or a postpaid plan.

The conventional charging scheme for the use of wireless data services is based on the concept of Point of Service (POS), which is charged at the base station controller (BSC) or the packet data serving node (PDSN) that is the end of the communication service. It generates data (CDR: Call Detail Record). In the case of a voice call for a voice call, the base station controller (BSC) will generate the charging data (CDR) in the packet data serving node (PDSN) in the case of a data call for use of a wireless data service.

However, in wireless data communication, various content providers (CPs) are connected to a wireless data service user through a wireless Internet and a mobile communication service system to provide a service. Therefore, since there is an area other than the management area of the mobile communication service provider, the conventional wireless data service charge calculation method has a problem in that billing for a service provided to a wireless data service user is simplified. In other words, the charge for the service provided to the user of the wireless data service should be divided into individual items such as network fee and content fee, but there is a problem in that it cannot be applied in practice. In addition, a subscriber who purchased a prepaid card corresponding to any portal website accessible through the mobile communication service system has a problem that the same billing rate is applied and no benefit is given.

In addition, a packet data serving node (PDSN) for generating charging data (CDR) for network usage through a session connection between a terminal of a wireless data service user and a content provider may include a source IP, a destination IP, It is only a kind of router that collects only port numbers to generate billing data, and it was not possible to analyze network usage by individual content and / or group content.

This is because the proxy server located at the boundary between the mobile communication service system and the Internet includes and transmits its own information in the data packet received from the content provider, and charging is performed using the corresponding information.

As described above, the conventional wireless data service fee calculation method has a problem in that various charge products cannot be developed because charging is only performed based on the amount of packets used by the wireless data service user or the service use time, but it is impossible to perform billing according to various conditions. .

Accordingly, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber that can generate charging data according to a wireless data service using a network fee and a content fee; To provide a system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a differential access to the portal website of a prepaid card subscriber to apply a discounted billing rate to a subscriber who purchased a prepaid card corresponding to a predetermined condition in generating billing data for use of a wireless data service. It is to provide a charging method and system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber to generate billing data segmented according to various conditions in generating billing data for a network fee and / or a content fee. To provide a system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a differential charging method and system for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber that enables various payment product development using charging data generated in a granular form according to various conditions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a differential charging method and system for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber that can maximize the content revenue through the introduction of a reasonable and sophisticated rate system, fast and accurate charging, and customer satisfaction. will be.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, in the billing processing device provided between the data service device that is a packet data transmission and reception path and the menu server, a method for performing billing for the use of the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing billing calculation basic information corresponding to at least one content data or a content service of the content providing server; Storing one or more prepaid card subscriber information, wherein the prepaid card subscriber information includes benefit information for at least a particular content providing server or a service of a particular content providing server group; Receiving a traffic data packet including content data from any content providing server; Extracting charging basic information included in the traffic data packet, wherein the charging basic information includes user identification information and an access address of the content providing server; Determining whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber using the charging basic information; Extracting benefit information, if the prepaid card subscriber, wherein the benefit information is at least one of free and discounted; Calculating a content usage fee corresponding to the content data using the billing calculation basic information and the benefit information; Subtracting the content fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber; And if the balance after the deduction of the account does not have a negative value, forwarding the data packet to the data service device, wherein the billing method for the wireless data service use of the prepaid card subscriber is provided. A system, apparatus, and recording medium are provided for enabling a prepaid card subscriber to perform a charging method for using a wireless data service.

The charging method for the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber may include determining whether a data packet including new content data is received from an arbitrary content providing server within a predetermined time; And transitioning to an idle state when the new traffic data is not received.

In addition, the billing method for the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber may include calculating network usage information corresponding to the traffic data packet; Calculating a network usage fee corresponding to the network usage information by using the charging calculation basic information and the benefit information; And subtracting the network fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber.

In addition, the billing method for the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber comprises the steps of: receiving a data packet corresponding to the content providing request from the user terminal; Determining whether the data packet is to be charged; Calculating network usage information corresponding to the data packet by using the charging calculation basic information and the benefit information when the charging target is used; And subtracting the network fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber.

The charging calculation basic information may include content data or fee information that is differentially determined according to the content providing server.

In addition, the data service device includes an interworking function (IWF), a packet data serving node (PDSN), a serving GPRS supporting node (SGSN), a gateway GPRS supporting node (GPRS). Gateway GPRS Supporting Node).

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a billing processing device provided between a data service device that is a packet data transmission path and a menu server, a method of performing billing for the use of a wireless data service of a prepaid card subscriber, the one or more contents Storing charging calculation basic information corresponding to data or a content service of the content providing server; Receiving a traffic data packet including content data from any content providing server; Sending a subscriber details request for a user corresponding to a traffic data packet to a subscriber information management device, wherein the subscriber details request includes the user identification information and an access address of the content providing server; Receiving subscriber identification information for the user from the subscriber information management device, wherein the subscriber identification information includes a prepaid card subscriber or a prepaid card subscriber; If the user is a prepaid card subscriber, calculating a content fee corresponding to the content data using the charging basic information, the charging calculation basic information, and the benefit information; Subtracting the content fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber; And if the balance after deducting the account does not have a negative value, forwarding the data packet to the data service device, wherein the billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber is provided. A system, apparatus and a record carrier are provided for enabling the performing of a charging method for the use of a wireless data service. In this case, the subscriber information management device stores in advance prepaid card subscriber information including benefit information on at least a specific content providing server or a service of a specific content providing server group for at least one user, and the subscriber detailed information from the billing processing device. When the request is received, it may be determined whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber and transmit the subscriber identification information to the billing processing device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a mobile communication service system that performs billing for use of a wireless data service by a prepaid card subscriber, the mobile terminal is coupled to a user terminal through a communication network to receive a content providing request from the user terminal. A base station for transmitting a traffic data packet including content data corresponding to the content providing request to a terminal; A data service device receiving the content providing request from the base station and transmitting the traffic data packet to the base station; Corresponds to the service platform provided in the user terminal, receives a content providing request from the data service device, transmits the content providing request to a corresponding content providing server through a communication network, and transmits the traffic data packet from the content providing server. A menu server for receiving and transmitting to the data service device; Located between the data service device and the menu server, generating charging data for at least one of the content providing request and the traffic packet data transmitted and received between the data service device and the menu server and performing a real time charging deduction. A charging processing device, wherein the charging processing device generates the charging data using the subscriber identification information; And a subscriber information management device for storing one or more prepaid card subscriber information, and transmitting the subscriber identification information corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber to the billing processing device in response to a request for subscriber details of the billing processing device. The subscriber identification information includes benefit information of a prepaid card registered corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber, and the benefit information includes a discount or free benefit for a service of a specific content providing server or a specific content providing server group. A mobile communication service system is provided.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, the same reference numerals will be used for the same means regardless of the reference numerals in order to facilitate the overall understanding.

1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall system configuration for performing a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the entire system for performing the content-based differential charging method for using the wireless data service according to the present invention is a user terminal (110a, 110b, ..., 110n-hereinafter referred to as 110), mobile communication service System 120 and a plurality of content providing servers 150a, 150b,..., 150n-hereafter referred to as 150.

The user terminal 110 connects to the mobile communication service system 120 through a communication network, accesses an arbitrary content providing server 150 via the mobile communication service system 120, and then at the content providing server 150. It is a device that receives and processes (eg, stores, displays, etc.) arbitrary content data (eg, ringtones, wallpaper, stock information, etc.). In FIG. 1, only the mobile communication terminal 110a, the personal portable terminal 110b, and the notebook computer 110n are illustrated as the type of the user terminal 110, but any device capable of performing the above functions in the same manner is not limited. The same can be applied. The user of the user terminal 110 may be a prepaid card subscriber who purchased a prepaid card corresponding to a specific portal website or a specific group of portal websites or a general subscriber who did not purchase a prepaid card. Of course, the classification as a prepaid card subscriber or a general subscriber may not be an absolute criterion for distinguishing a mobile communication service system subscriber, and in some cases, as a prepaid card subscriber for a portal website A corresponding to a prepaid card purchased by the same subscriber. It is obvious that other websites may be recognized as general subscribers.

The mobile communication service system 120 may include a base transceiver station (BTS) 125, a base station controller (BSC) 130, a data service device 135, a billing processing device 140, and a subscriber information management device 143. ) And a menu server 145. Of course, in addition to the Access Point (AP), Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor Location Register (VLR), etc. For convenience of description, descriptions of other components are omitted.

The base station 125 is a device that enables wireless communication between the user terminal 110 and the mobile communication service system 120 through a wireless access system, and transmits and receives a signal with the base station controller 130 on a transmission path.

The base station controller 130 is a device that enables the processing of the user terminal 110 registration, control and traffic channel allocation, handoff execution, call setup and termination in the cell by the base station.

The data service device 135 is a device that enables the provision and use of a wireless Internet service in addition to a voice call network. An interworking function (IWF), a packet data serving node (PDSN), It may include at least one of a Serving GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Supporting Node (GPRS). IWF refers to a wireless data service device in a 2G network, a packet data serving node (PDSN) refers to a wireless data service device in a synchronous 3G network, and a gateway GPRS supporting node (GPRS) refers to an asynchronous 3G network. A wireless data service device in a network. Of course, if the device performs a similar function can be applied in the same manner as the above-described devices.

The billing processing unit 140 is a wireless data service of a user based on data packets transmitted and received between the data service device 135 and the menu server 145 (or between the data service device 135 and the content providing server 150). A device for generating billing data for use and performing billing. At this time, the billing processing unit 140 queries the subscriber information management device 143 whether the subscriber using the wireless data service is a prepaid card subscriber or a general subscriber, and identifies the subscriber information (eg, a prepaid card subscriber). After receiving the offer, etc.), the billing data corresponding to the received subscriber identification information can be generated. For example, if the prepaid card subscriber is a prepaid card subscriber who purchased a prepaid card corresponding to the ringer providing website A, and the prepaid card subscriber accesses the website A and uses the wireless data service, the prepaid card subscriber is discounted compared to the general subscriber. The billing rate can be applied to generate billing data. Obviously, the billing processing device 140 and the subscriber information management device 143 can be combined into one device. The charging processing device 140 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 2.

The subscriber information management device 143 stores and manages information on whether a subscriber using a wireless data service is a prepaid card subscriber or a general subscriber, and requests a subscriber information (eg, a phone number or content) from the billing processing device 140. And a URL of the provisioning server), the subscriber identification information corresponding to the subscriber information request is generated and transmitted to the billing processing device 140. If any subscriber has purchased a prepaid card corresponding to a particular portal website or a particular family of portal websites online or offline, the corresponding prepaid card purchase information (e.g. phone number, prepaid card purchase amount) , Offer benefit information, etc.) is transmitted and managed to the subscriber information management device 143 through a communication network. The prepaid card purchase information may be transmitted to the subscriber information management device 143 by the prepaid card subscriber requesting registration by visiting a mobile carrier or the like, or by accessing the portal website and inputting an authentication number written on the prepaid card. . In addition, when the prepaid card subscriber has purchased or prepaid the prepaid card online, the prepaid card purchase information is transmitted to the subscriber information management device 143 by sending the prepaid card purchase information to the subscriber information management device 143 through the communication network. The information management device 143 is registered. Of course, if it is a method that can be registered by transmitting the prepaid card purchase information to the subscriber information management device 143 may be applied without any limitation. In addition, it is obvious that the billing processing device 140 and the subscriber information management device 143 may be implemented as one device as described above.

The menu server 145 is a service platform provided in the user terminal 110 (for example, Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BLEW), Mobile Explorer (ME), KTF Unified Navigator (KUN), and Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI). ), Or a device (eg, a gateway, a proxy server, etc.) connected to the content providing server 150 corresponding to the corresponding service platform. The menu server 145 may perform functions such as mediation of content data, protocol conversion, and encryption processing. When the user terminal 110 transmits a wireless data service request, the menu server 145 corresponds to service items provided by the content providing server 150 that is predetermined in accordance with the service platform provided in the user terminal 110. Transmitting the menu information to the user terminal 110 and receiving the content data from the content providing server 150 providing the corresponding content data when the request for providing the specific content data is received from the user terminal 110. 110). That is, the IP and port number of the gateway (or proxy server) are registered in the menu server 145, and the gateway is used in the service platform application (eg, ME browser) of the user terminal 110. IP and port number are set to the same. Therefore, when a user inputs a wireless data service start request using the user terminal 110, the user automatically accesses the menu server 145 corresponding to the service platform installed in the user terminal 110. For example, when a user requests ringtone content data using the user terminal 110 having 'ME' installed as a service platform, the content data request is received by the menu server 145 corresponding to the service platform 'ME'. In addition, the menu server 145 serves as an intermediary for receiving the ringtone content data from the content providing server 150 providing the ringtone content data and transmitting the ringtone content data to the user terminal 110.

The content providing server 150 is a device that is connected to the mobile communication service system 120 through a communication network and provides content data requested by a user. The content providing server 150 provides a ringtone providing server, a background image providing server, a stock information providing server, and a webmail service. Server, instant messenger service server, and the like.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a billing processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the billing processing device 140 includes a billing data generation unit 205, a billing data management unit 210, a billing processing unit 215, and a billing verification unit 220. Of course, some components may be omitted, and the menu server 145 may be included as some components of the charging processing device 140.

The billing data generation unit 205 charges all traffic information (for example, packet usage, usage time information, and the like) transmitted and received between the data service device 135 and the menu server 145 (or the content providing server 150). Basic information (for example, caller / recipient phone number, source IP, destination IP, destination URL of content providing server 150, port number, call start time) ), Call detail time (CDR) is generated using the call detail record (CDR) and transmitted to the billing processing unit 215. The data packet transmitted / received between the data service device 135 and the menu server 145 (or the content providing server 150) so that the charging data generation unit 205 generates the charging data may be charged data generation unit 205. Can be transmitted and received via. In addition, the data packet may be duplicated and provided to the charging data generation unit 205, where the replication process of the data packet is performed by the charging data generation unit 205 or a separate duplicate packet providing unit (not shown). It can be performed by). In addition, when the header information indicating that the data packet received through the menu server 145 includes the charging calculation reference information is present, the charging data generation unit 205 extracts the charging calculation reference information to determine the charging data management unit 210. You can also pass

The charging data management unit 210 stores charging calculation reference information (for example, wireless data charging information and content charging information) for charging when the content data of the content providing server 150 inside or outside the mobile communication service system is used. In addition, the billing data management unit 210 may further store URL information, service type information, and the like of the content providing server 150, and when the menu server 145 is included as one component of the billing processing device 140. The URL server and the like can be managed by the menu server 145. The billing calculation reference information transmitted from the content providing server 150 may be provided through the billing data generator 205 or the billing verifier 220. And, the billing data management unit 210 checks whether the subscriber using the wireless data service is a prepaid card subscriber and whether the content providing server 150 to which the prepaid card subscriber is connected is to be provided with a discounted benefit. The subscriber's telephone number and the URL of the content providing server 150 are extracted from the billing data received from the generation unit 205, and a subscriber information request is generated and transmitted to the subscriber information management device 143. Then, using the subscriber identification information received from the subscriber information management device 143, the charging calculation reference information is updated to correspond to the subscriber. Of course, when the subscriber information management device 143 is configured to be integrated with the billing data management unit 210, all of the above-described operations may be performed in the billing data management unit 210.

The billing processing unit 215 generates detailed billing data on the wireless data service using the billing data received from the billing data generation unit 205 and billing calculation reference information stored (or updated) in the billing data management unit 210. do. The generated detailed billing data may be stored and managed by the billing processor 215 or transferred to a separate billing data management device (not shown) to be managed.

The billing verification unit 220 from the corresponding content providing server 150 when the billing calculation reference information stored in the billing data management unit 210 is not new information or needs verification of detailed billing data generated by the billing processing unit 215. By receiving the billing calculation reference information and regenerating the detailed billing data, the validity of the detailed billing data generated by the billing processing unit 215 is verified. If the billing calculation reference information stored in the billing data management unit 210 is stored before a predetermined period (for example, a validity period of two months), the verification may be performed.

Of course, the above-described billing data generation unit 205, billing data management unit 210, billing processing unit 215 and billing verification unit 220 may be configured as a separate device, each component is billed processing When implemented as a device called the device 140, it is obvious that a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of each component may be further included.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a transmission and reception state of data packets transmitted and received during session connection. 4b is a diagram illustrating detailed charging data generated by the charging processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in operation 303, the billing processing device 140 stores billing calculation reference information for billing according to network usage and / or content usage. The charging calculation reference information may be input by the mobile communication service system administrator or received from the content providing server 150.

In step 306, the subscriber information management device 143 receives the prepaid card purchase information (e.g., a telephone number, prepaid card purchase amount, offer benefit information, etc.) corresponding to any subscriber from the carrier agency, seller, or provider system. Save it. In step 306, the subscriber information management device 143 allows a subscriber to select a portal website (e.g., ringtone providing website A) or a portal website group (e.g., a website providing ringtone providing service; Information on how many prepaid cards you purchased for a group on website B, etc., and what benefits you receive from purchasing those prepaid cards (for example, subscriber "Hong Gil-dong" Purchase a corresponding 10,000 won prepaid card). Of course, it is obvious that the benefits of prepaid card purchase can be provided from the portal website. However, the prepaid card purchase information may be stored in the subscriber information management device through a method of inputting an authentication number after the prepaid card subscriber accesses the corresponding portal website through the mobile communication service system using the user terminal 110. 143), the step of storing the prepaid card purchase information is not limited to step 306 alone.

In operation 309, the user terminal 110 receives a content providing request for receiving the content data provided by the arbitrary content providing server 150 from the user and transmits the content providing request to the charging processing device 140 through the communication network. Of course, the content providing request will be received by the charging processing device 140 via the base station 125, the base station controller 130, the data service device 135, and the like.

The billing processing unit 140 receives the content providing request in step 313, and proceeds to step 316 to determine whether the data packet corresponding to the received content providing request is the billing target. For example, the user has selected a billing product (e.g., a product that exempts billing for network usage corresponding to a content providing request among a plurality of data billing products) or is selected for a mobile communication service. When the system 140 or the content providing server 150 bears the network usage for the content data request, the system 140 or the content providing server 150 may be excluded from billing.

If the billing target, the billing processing device 140 in step 319 of the billing basic information (ie, subscriber telephone number, content providing server 150 of the content providing server 150 to charge a network fee for the data packet corresponding to the content provision request; Information including a URL, information about whether the corresponding subscriber is a prepaid card subscriber or a general subscriber, and information for querying benefit information provided in the case of a prepaid card subscriber). In step 326, the subscriber information request (for example, is transmitted through the communication network to the subscriber information management device 143. As described above, the billing processing device 140 and the subscriber information management device 143) The subscriber information management device 143 receives the subscriber information request from the billing processing device 140 in step 326, and uses the billing basic information included in the subscriber information request in step 329. Detailed information for determining whether the subscriber is a prepaid card subscriber or a general subscriber and corresponding benefit information provided for the prepaid card subscriber (eg, network fee exemption, content fee 50% discount, etc.) is extracted according to the URL. Of course, the benefit information may be stored in the billing processing device 140, in this case, the subscriber information management device 143, the subscriber is prepaid card It is sufficient to provide only information on whether the user is a subscriber or a general subscriber, and then, the subscriber identification information is generated using the subscriber detail information and / or benefit information extracted in step 333, and the generated subscriber identification information is used for the billing processing device ( 140).

The charging processing device 140 receives the subscriber identification information from the subscriber information management device 143 in step 336, and proceeds to step 339 to generate first charging data corresponding to the network usage. The billing processing device 140 may apply various methods as follows to generate billing data in step 339. First, after generating the raw billing data corresponding to the network usage according to the billing rate corresponding to or selected by default of the wireless data communication billing product selected by the subscriber, subscriber identification information received from the subscriber information management device 143 The method of updating the raw billing data may be applied by granting a corresponding benefit. Second, a method of generating billing data corresponding to network usage after updating the billing rate by reflecting the benefit corresponding to the subscriber identification information received from the subscriber information management device 143 in the found billing rate may be applied. Third, a method of generating all the billing data at once using the billing rate updated to correspond to the searched billing rate and the subscriber identification information may be applied. Of course, it is obvious that various methods may be additionally applied. The billing data generated through steps 319 to 339 may not include actual amount information, and may include only network usage information (eg, packet usage, service usage time, etc.).

Referring back to step 316, if the data packet is not the billing subject, step 343 is immediately performed.

In operation 343, the charging processing device 140 receives the content providing request received from the user terminal 110 via the menu server 145 corresponding to the service platform provided in the user terminal 110. To send. As described above, the menu server 145 and the charging processing device 140 may be implemented as one device.

The billing processing device 140 receives the content data from the content providing server 150 in step 346. That is, the content providing server 150 extracts the content data corresponding to the content providing request received from the charging processing device 140 and transmits the content data to the charging processing device 140 through the menu server 145. Thereafter, in step 349, the charging processing device 140 determines whether a data packet corresponding to the content data is a charging target. For example, when the content providing server 150 designates a fee for providing content data, the content providing server 150 may not only correspond to a billing target based on content usage, but also may apply to a billing target based on network usage according to packet data transmission and reception. .

In the case of a billing target, the billing processing device 140 generates second billing data for charging a network fee and / or a content fee for a data packet corresponding to the content data in step 353, and then proceeds to step 356. In this case, the second billing data may be generated using the subscriber identification information and the updated billing rate information received through the steps 323 to 336. Of course, if the traffic packet is not subject to charging according to the determination of step 316, if steps 323 to 336 are not performed, steps 323 to 336 may be performed prior to step 353. In addition, as described above, the billing data does not include actual price information, but only content content provided to anyone from a certain content providing server 150 and network usage information (for example, packet usage and service). Time of use, etc.) may be included. However, if it is not subject to charging, the process proceeds immediately to step 356.

In operation 356, the charging processing device 140 transmits the content data to the user terminal 110 through the data service device 135.

The user terminal 110 receives the content data in step 359, and proceeds to step 363 to perform a process corresponding to the received content data. For example, if the content data is ringtone data, a storage operation may be performed, and if the content data is real-time stock information, it may be displayed on the display unit.

In operation 366, the charging processing apparatus 140 uses the charging calculation reference information stored in operation 303, the subscriber identification information received in operation 336, the charging data generated in operation 339 and operation 356, and the like. Generate detailed billing data for the user. In operation 369, the charging processing apparatus 140 performs the charging processing corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber using the detailed charging data generated in operation 366. That is, the amount corresponding to the network usage fee and / or content usage fee is deducted in real time from the prepaid amount account of the prepaid card subscriber, and step 369 is performed by a billing device (not shown) other than the billing processing device 140. It is obvious that it can be performed.

As such, the billing processing device 140 according to the present invention has a structural feature located at the rear of the data service device 135 and also at the front of the menu server 145 (or the content providing server 150). Due to this structural feature, the billing processing device 140 may generate detailed billing data regarding which service the wireless data service user receives from which content providing server 150.

In addition, the billing processing device 140 according to the present invention is a data packet including new content data from the arbitrary content providing server 143 within a predetermined time after the content data transmission to the user terminal 110 is completed (that is, It is determined whether or not a data packet corresponding to a request for providing new content from the user terminal 110 is received, and when the new traffic data is not received, the mobile station enters an idle state by only switching to an idle state, so that only the session is established. It can also eliminate the irrationality that occurs.

In the conventional charging method for using a wireless data service, a charging device is coupled to a packet data serving node (PDSN) to perform charging using charging data provided from a packet data serving node. That is, since the charging method using the gateway-specific billing log (for example, the billing log according to the IP and port number of the gateway) corresponding to the service platform provided by the packet data serving node (PDSN), the corresponding user actually does not know what content. It is not known whether the content data is provided from the providing server, and only charging based on the total amount of packet data used during the session connection or the total use time can be made. In addition, there was a problem that can not analyze the traffic information for each service type used by the user.

However, in the method of generating detailed billing data according to the present invention, the URL information included in the data packet received from the content providing server 150 is extracted to perform billing for each content / group. In addition, the billing is performed by reflecting the benefits corresponding to the prepaid card purchased by the prepaid card subscriber. That is, charging is performed before the data packet received from the content providing server 150 is transmitted to the data service device 135, and URL information of the content providing server 150 included in the packet data is extracted during the charging process. . When the extraction of the URL is made, it is possible to check whether the corresponding data packet is transmitted from which content providing server 150 to provide a service, or whether a prepaid card subscriber corresponding to the corresponding URL or service type is provided. The charging is performed by applying the charging calculation reference information corresponding to the service and / or subscriber classification.

4A illustrates content data provided by a wireless data service user during a session connection, and detailed charging data generated by the charging processing device 140 is illustrated in FIG. 4B.

That is, when a particular subscriber uses a voice service, a picture country service, etc. during a session connection, and the subscriber purchases a prepaid card corresponding to a "phone decorating" service group, the charging processing device 140 corresponds to each service. After extracting URL information included in the data packet, detailed billing data as shown in FIG. 4B is generated using service type information, subscriber identification information, billing calculation reference information, and offer benefit information. In FIG. 4B, the subscriber purchases a prepaid card corresponding to a "phone decorating" service group, and the prepaid card subscriber receives a 50% discount on network usage and content usage fee when downloading a ringtone from a ringtone providing website called "sound country". Is applied and detailed billing data is exemplified when a network image is exempted from downloading a background image from a background image providing website called "Picture Country" and a 50% discount is applied to the content fee. Therefore, in the detailed billing data of FIG. 4B, the discount is not applied to the service group other than "decorating the phone". As illustrated in FIG. 4B, detailed billing data corresponding to a user's use of a wireless data service may be classified into a service type (eg, phone decorating, K-merce, etc.), and details (eg, sound, picture, etc.). The packet usage (i.e., network usage) and the information usage fee (i.e., content usage fee) corresponding to each detail are calculated separately. Of course, the total amount of the fee for each group may be calculated, and customer information about which service the user mainly uses may be extracted. In addition, the user pays only the fee for receiving the actual content data (that is, the network fee for use time excluding the content data fee and idle time), thereby enabling the development and application of a reasonable fee system. In addition, although the detailed billing data shown in FIG. 4B is shown in a form in which all details of the wireless data service used by the user terminal during the session connection are included, in the case of a prepaid card subscriber, a fee (for example, The wireless data service fee or the total service fee provided with the corresponding benefit of the prepaid card may be deducted in real time.

So far, referring to FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the generation of the billing data is completed before the content provision request received from the user terminal 110 or the content data received from the content provision server 150 are transmitted to the destination. The explanation is centered. However, unlike this, it is obvious that the billing processing device 140 may perform billing data generation in parallel with the transmission of the corresponding traffic data. For example, the billing processing device 140 may generate billing data by copying traffic data on a path transmitted and received between the user terminal 110 and the content providing server 150.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a verification procedure of detailed billing data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in operation 510, the charging processing apparatus 140 that generates detailed charging data determines whether verification of the generated detailed charging data is necessary (step 515). For example, the billing calculation reference information stored in the billing data management unit 210 and / or the subscriber classification information stored in the subscriber information management device 143, the benefit information for the prepaid card subscriber, and the like are predetermined periods (for example, valid). If it was stored earlier than 2 months, it can be determined that verification is required.

If it is determined that verification is necessary, the process proceeds to step 520 to extract access information of the content providing server 150 corresponding to the use of the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber. In operation 525, the request for providing charging calculation reference information is transmitted to the content providing server 150. The request for providing the calculation information of the billing information includes service details corresponding to the user's use of the wireless data service (for example, picture), URL information of the content providing server 150, telephone number information of a prepaid card subscriber, and a request for providing benefit information. Etc. may be included.

In step 530, the content providing server 150 receives the request for providing the billing reference information, and proceeds to step 535 to extract the corresponding billing calculation reference information and transmits the extracted billing calculation reference information to the billing processing device 140. .

The billing processing device 140 receives billing calculation reference information and / or benefit information from the content providing server 150 in step 540. Then, the detailed billing data is regenerated using the billing calculation reference information and / or the benefit information received in step 540, and it is verified whether or not it matches the detailed billing data generated in step 510. If the two do not match, it is recognized that the detailed charging data generated through step 545 is valid. Of course, if the charge calculation reference information and the benefit information received through the step 540 matches the pre-stored charge calculation reference information and the benefit information received from the subscriber information management device 143, step 545 may be omitted.

As described above, the differential charging method and system for accessing the portal website of the prepaid card subscriber according to the present invention may generate the charging data according to the wireless data service by dividing the network fee and the content fee.

In addition, the present invention may allow a discounted billing rate to be applied to a subscriber who purchased a prepaid card corresponding to a predetermined condition in generating billing data according to the use of a wireless data service.

In addition, the present invention may generate billing data segmented according to various conditions in generating billing data for the network fee and / or content fee.

In addition, the present invention enables the development of a variety of fee products using the billing data generated in a granular form according to various conditions.

In addition, the present invention can maximize the content revenue through the introduction of a reasonable and sophisticated rate system, fast and accurate billing and customer satisfaction.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall system configuration for performing a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a billing processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a differential charging method for accessing a portal website of a prepaid card subscriber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a diagram illustrating a transmission and reception state of data packets transmitted and received during session connection.

4B is a diagram illustrating detailed billing data generated by a billing processing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a verification procedure of detailed billing data according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

110: user terminal

120: mobile communication service system

125: base transceiver station (BTS)

130: base station controller (BSC)

135: data service device

140: billing processing device

143: subscriber information management device

145: menu server

150: content providing server

205: billing data generation unit

210: billing data management unit

215: billing processing unit

220: billing verification unit

Claims (8)

In the billing processing device provided between the data service device that is a packet data transmission and reception path and the menu server, the billing method for the wireless data service use of the prepaid card subscriber, Storing charging calculation basic information corresponding to at least one content data or a content service of the content providing server, wherein the charging calculation basic information includes content data or price information differentially determined according to the content providing server. ; Storing one or more prepaid card subscriber information, wherein the prepaid card subscriber information includes benefit information for at least a particular content providing server or a service of a particular content providing server group; Receiving a traffic data packet including content data from any content providing server; Extracting charging basic information included in the traffic data packet, wherein the charging basic information includes user identification information and an access address of the content providing server; Determining whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber using the charging basic information; Extracting benefit information, if the prepaid card subscriber, wherein the benefit information is at least one of free and discounted; Calculating a content usage fee corresponding to the content data using the billing calculation basic information and the benefit information; Subtracting the content fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber; And Forwarding the data packet to the data service device if the balance after the deduction of the account does not have a negative value Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber comprising a. The method of claim 1, Determining whether a data packet including new content data is received from any content providing server within a predetermined time; And Transitioning to an idle state when the new traffic data is not received Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber further comprising a. The method of claim 1, Calculating network usage information corresponding to the traffic data packet; Calculating a network usage fee corresponding to the network usage information by using the charging calculation basic information and the benefit information; And Subtracting the network fee from the balance of an account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber further comprising a. The method of claim 1, Receiving a data packet corresponding to a content providing request from a user terminal; Determining whether the data packet is to be charged; Calculating network usage information corresponding to the data packet by using the charging calculation basic information and the benefit information when the charging target is used; And Subtracting the network fee from the balance of an account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber further comprising a. The method of claim 1, The data service device includes an interworking function (IWF), a packet data serving node (PDSN), a serving GPRS supporting node (SGSN), a gateway GPRS supporting node (GPRS) Including at least one of the supporting nodes) Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber, characterized in that. In the billing processing device provided between the data service device that is a packet data transmission and reception path and the menu server, the billing method for the wireless data service use of the prepaid card subscriber, Storing charging calculation basic information corresponding to at least one content data or a content service of the content providing server; Receiving a traffic data packet including content data from any content providing server; Sending a subscriber details request for a user corresponding to a traffic data packet to a subscriber information management device, wherein the subscriber details request includes the user identification information and an access address of the content providing server; Receiving subscriber identification information for the user from the subscriber information management device, wherein the subscriber identification information includes a prepaid card subscriber or a prepaid card subscriber; If the user is a prepaid card subscriber, calculating a content fee corresponding to the content data using the charging basic information, the charging calculation basic information, and the benefit information;  Subtracting the content fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber; And Forwarding the data packet to the data service device if the balance after the deduction of the account does not have a negative value Including but not limited to: The subscriber information management device stores in advance prepaid card subscriber information including benefit information on at least a specific content providing server or a service of a specific content providing server group for at least one user, and requests for subscriber detail information from the billing processing device. When received, it is determined whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber and transmits the subscriber identification information to the billing processing device. Billing method for using the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber, characterized in that. In the billing processing device for performing the charge for the wireless data service of the prepaid card subscriber, and provided between the data service device which is a packet data transmission and reception path and the menu server, A storage unit for storing one or more pieces of content data or billing calculation basic information corresponding to the content service of the content providing server, one or more prepaid card subscriber information, wherein the prepaid card subscriber information is at least a specific content providing server or a specific content providing server Includes benefit information for military services; A receiving unit for receiving a traffic data packet including content data from any content providing server; A charging information extracting unit for extracting charging basic information included in the traffic data packet, wherein the charging basic information includes user identification information and an access address of the content providing server; A determination unit which determines whether the user is a prepaid card subscriber using the charging basic information; In the case of a prepaid card subscriber, a benefit extraction unit for extracting benefit information, wherein the benefit information is at least one of free and discounted; A calculator configured to calculate a content fee corresponding to the content data using the billing calculation basic information and the benefit information; A charge subtraction unit for subtracting the content fee from the balance of the account corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber; And A transfer unit for transferring the data packet to the data service device when the balance after the deduction of the account does not have a negative value Charging processing apparatus comprising a. A mobile communication service system for performing billing for use of a wireless data service by a prepaid card subscriber, A base station coupled to a user terminal through a communication network to receive a content providing request from the user terminal, and to transmit a traffic data packet including content data corresponding to the content providing request to the user terminal; A data service device receiving the content providing request from the base station and transmitting the traffic data packet to the base station; Corresponds to the service platform provided in the user terminal, receives a content providing request from the data service device, transmits the content providing request to a corresponding content providing server through a communication network, and transmits the traffic data packet from the content providing server. A menu server for receiving and transmitting to the data service device; Located between the data service device and the menu server, generating charging data for at least one of the content providing request and the traffic packet data transmitted and received between the data service device and the menu server and performing a real time charging deduction. A charging processing device, wherein the charging processing device generates the charging data using the subscriber identification information; And A subscriber information management device which stores one or more prepaid card subscriber information and transmits the subscriber identification information corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber to the billing processing device in response to a request for subscriber details of the billing processing device, wherein the subscriber The segmentation information includes benefit information of a prepaid card registered corresponding to the prepaid card subscriber, and the benefit information is a discount or a free benefit for a service of a specific content providing server or a specific content providing server group. Mobile communication service system comprising a.