JP2000252979A - Network connection system having charging function and charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct charging processing on the basis of a transmission quantity depending on services. SOLUTION: A data quantity probe 3 supplies transmission quantity data generated on the basis of number of packets passing on a bus L2 to a data quantity collection section 4. The data quantity collection section 4 accumulates the transmission quantity data by IP addresses and protocols to generate daily transmission quantity data and transmits the data to a data charging server 5. The data charging server 5 sums the daily transmission quantity data by users on the basis of subscriber contract data and stores data quantities by users and dates. Moreover, an excess charge from a preceding closing date to a concerned date is calculated. The data charging server 5 generates the excess charge data at the closing date and outputs the data to a CATV charging server 8. The data charging server 5 outputs the daily transmission data quantity and a monthly transmission data quantity to a Web server 9, which generates daily detailed data and monthly detailed data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pay-per-use method for charging a fee according to the amount of data transmitted and received by a subscriber, and more particularly, to a service-dependent charging process for data access via a CATV (cable television) network. It relates to a charging method that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art WAN (Wide Ari) such as the Internet
a Network). In this type of service, there is a relationship with a dial-up service, and a method of charging according to the connection time is generally used.

Recently, CATV (cable television)
Internet connection services using networks have begun to spread. Since the CATV network has a large transmission capacity, it has features such as high-speed and large-capacity access. In the case of the Internet connection service using CATV, the computer of the subscriber and the CATV network are always connected, and it is difficult to charge according to the connection time.

Conventionally, in an Internet connection service using a CATV network, an amount of transmission data is measured in a distributed manner at an interface (terminal) between a computer and the CATV network. It was difficult. Measuring the amount of data at the interface installed on the user side requires the reliability of the line, and is not desirable from the point of security. It is desired to collect billing information. Also, it has been difficult to provide a flexible service such as setting a fee according to the type of data transmitted and received.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional C
In Internet connection service using ATV network,
The measurement of the data amount of the transmission data is performed in a distributed manner, which makes management difficult, and furthermore, it is difficult to perform flexible charging processing according to the contents of the service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a charging system capable of intensively measuring the amount of transmission data at a center and performing charging processing based on the amount of transmission. I do. It is another object of the present invention to provide a billing system that can flexibly perform billing processing for each service (for each protocol). Another object of the present invention is to provide a charging system suitable for a network connection service using a CATV network.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a network connection system according to a first aspect of the present invention is arranged between a plurality of computers and a network, and connects each computer to the network. A network connection system, a data transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data between the plurality of computers and a network, a detection unit that monitors data transmitted through the data transmission / reception unit, and detects an address and a data amount, It is characterized by comprising a totaling means for totalizing the amount of data detected by the detecting means for each address, and a charging means for calculating a charging amount based on the total value calculated by the totaling means.

[0008] A network connection system according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of computers with a CAT.
A network connection system connected via a V network and connecting each computer to the Internet via the CATV network, wherein data is transmitted and received between the plurality of computers and the Internet via a CATV network Data transmitting and receiving means, data transmitted by the data transmitting and receiving means, detecting means for detecting an address and a data amount, totaling means for totalizing the data amount detected by the detecting means for each address, and the totaling means And a billing means for calculating a billing amount based on the total value obtained by the above.

[0009] According to the network connection system according to the first and second aspects, the transmitted and received data is monitored to determine the address and the data amount, and the data is aggregated.
The measurement of the transmission amount can be performed centrally at one place, and the measurement, processing and management of data are very easy.

[0010] The detecting means includes means for monitoring data transmitted by the data transmitting / receiving means and detecting a protocol thereof, and the counting means calculates a data amount detected by the detecting means for each address and each protocol. A means for counting may be provided. With this configuration, data can be totalized for each protocol, so that flexible charge setting such as setting different charges for each protocol becomes possible. The protocol is not limited to the seven-layer protocol in the OSI reference model, but includes various service types and data types.

For example, the detecting means includes means for detecting an amount of data transmitted from the computer to the network and an amount of data received by the computer from the network, and the counting means includes a means for detecting the amount of data detected by the detecting means. Daily tallying means for tallying the amount for each address and protocol for each day, and the data amount tallyed by the daily tallying means is accumulated from the previous closing date, and the transmitted / received data amount from the previous closing date to the present is calculated. And a billing means, wherein the billing means comprises means for calculating a billing amount based on the data amount counted by the monthly counting means.

[0012] The billing means includes means for storing a computer address for each user, and means for counting the amount of data collected for each address, for each user. With this configuration, accounting processing can be performed for each account, not for each address.

[0013] The accounting means may include means for subtracting the data amount of the data not to be charged from the total data amount. With such a configuration, the data of the protocol set free of charge can be excluded from the billing target.

A billing method according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided between a plurality of computers and a network, determines the amount of data transmitted and received between each computer and the network, and determines the amount of data. A billing method for performing billing processing based on: monitoring data transmitted between the plurality of computers and a network; detecting an address, a protocol, and a data amount; and detecting the detected data amount by an address and a protocol. The accounting is performed, and a billing amount is obtained based on the aggregation value.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a billing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where it is applied to an Internet connection system (provider function) using a CATV network.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a CATV system according to this embodiment. This CATV system includes computers (hereinafter abbreviated as PCs) 1a to 1m, cable modems (terminals) 2a to 2n, a data amount probe 3, a data amount totalizing unit 4, a data charging server 5, a center router, 6, a security router 7, a CATV charging server 8, a web server 9, and a line termination unit (DSU) 10
And router and firewall 11
, A CATV network 12, and buses L1 to L3.

PCs 1a to 1m are a personal computer (PC), an electronic organizer, a PDA (Personal Digital Ass
It is composed of an electronic terminal such as istants) and transmits and receives data to and from a server on the Internet INT according to a user's instruction. Each PC is assigned a fixed IP address represented by “172. **. *. ***” when subscribing to the Internet connection service.

The cable modems (terminals) 2a to 2n
This is an interface device for connecting the C1a to 1m and the CATV network 11, and performs interface processing of data to be transmitted and received. A plurality of PCs can be connected to one cable modem.

The data amount probe 3 monitors the data transmitted on the bus L2, determines the data amount for each host address (for each IP address) and for each protocol, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D. As shown, the transmission amount data for each communication is generated and stored in the internal memory, and the stored data is supplied to the data amount totaling unit 4 via the bus L3.

Specifically, a data packet transmitted on the buses L1 and L2 has the basic configuration shown in FIG. The data amount probe 3 not only means the destination address (destination address), the source address (source address), and the protocol (only the seven-layer protocol in the OSI reference model) based on the contents of the packet header portion of the data packet. Each time data is transmitted by reading the data configuration (including a difference in data configuration based on the type of service), the data amount, the packet number, and the like, FIGS.
The transmission amount data (for one line) shown in FIG.

The data amount tallying unit 4 includes the data amount probe 3
Of the transmission amount data for each communication supplied from the company via the bus L3 by IP address and protocol (sum)
Then, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, daily transmission amount data indicating one day's data transmission / reception amount (transmission amount from the closing time of the previous day to the present time) is generated, and is transmitted via the bus L3. And outputs it to the data charging server 5.

The data charging server 5 is a server for performing a charging process for an Internet connection service using a CATV system. The data billing server 5 adds up the daily transmission amount data supplied from the data amount totaling unit 4 for each user and obtains the daily transmission amount data for each subscriber (for each account) as shown in FIG. Ask for. In addition, the data accounting server 5 accumulates the transmission amount data for each subscriber and, as shown in FIG. 5B, shows the total amount of transmission / reception data from the previous closing date to the current day for each subscriber. Next transmission amount data is obtained.

Further, the data accounting server 5
As shown in FIG. 6B, charge list data indicating charge settings for each charge course as shown in FIG. 6A is stored, and based on the charge list data and the monthly transmission amount data per subscriber. For a reasonable billing amount.

The center router 6 is a device for connecting the CATV network 12 and the bus L2 to each other and transmitting data bidirectionally.

The security router 7 has a security function and is a device for connecting the bus L2 and the bus L3 to each other, and performs an authentication process for access from the PCs 1a to 1m to the Web server 9, and the like.

The CATV billing server 8 is a server for managing subscribers of the cable television service and performing billing processing. The CATV billing server 8 includes subscriber contract data for managing registration information of subscribers (registrants) and individual subscriber data. Of the CATV reception fee. As shown in FIG. 7, the subscriber contract data stores a terminal number (cable modem number), a PC number, an IP address, a contract course, a name, an address, a telephone number, an account, and the like in association with the subscriber number. ing.

The Web server 9 is provided with charging information relating to the Internet connection service supplied from the data charging server 5 and CA supplied from the CATV charging server 8 or the like.
The charge information and the like relating to the use of TV are converted into HTML, and detailed data is provided in response to a request from a subscriber.

The detailed data generated by the Web server 9 is as follows:
For example, a monthly statement shown in FIG. 8 and a daily statement shown in FIG. 9 are included. The monthly statement includes billing information for the Internet connection service for each month for each subscriber (account).
For example, in FIG. 8, the closing date of each month, the terminal number, and the PC
The information includes information such as a number, an IP address, a data communication amount, an uncollected date, a total communication amount, a basic usage amount, and an excess fee. The daily statement displays the usage amount for one day for each user (account), and includes information such as a date, a data communication amount, and a registration date as shown in FIG.

DSU (Digital Line Termination Unit) 10
Connects the Internet ITN and this CATV system. The router and the firewall 11 are provided with a security function for preventing unauthorized access from the outside, connect the bus L1 and the bus L2 with each other, and transmit and receive data. To limit the address of the external device to perform the operation.

The CATV network 12 is a network composed of an optical cable and the like for distributing a television signal including video and audio to a receiver connected via a decoder. Further, the CATV network 12 is connected to the PC 1
It functions as a data transmission network for connecting a-1m to the Internet ITN.

The buses L1 to L3 are connected to an L
It is composed of an AN or the like and transmits data inside the Internet connection system. In addition, PC1a-1
m and the return data for the access to the Internet ITN are always transmitted on the bus L2, and transmitted on the bus L2 to monitor the amount of data, so that the data transmission amounts of all the PCs 1a to 1m can be measured. .

(Explanation of Operation) Next, C of this embodiment will be described.
The operation of the ATV system will be described based on a specific example.

(Subscription to Internet Connection Service)
When subscribing to the CATV system, a candidate who wishes to subscribe takes a subscription procedure in writing or online. Among the subscribers, the information of the subscribers to the Internet connection service is CATV as the subscriber contract data shown in FIG.
It is registered in the billing server 8. When a subscriber increases or decreases the number of PCs or cable modems, the same registration procedure is performed and the result is reflected in the subscriber contract data.

(Access to the Internet) Next, access to the Internet ITN will be described with reference to FIG. Subscriber number "1993061222"
9 ”, for example, using the PC 1a, the URL (Uniform Resource) of the server on the Internet ITN.
Locator) and instructs connection. PC1a
Outputs a connection request to the URL to the cable modem 2a in response to this instruction.

The cable modem 2a divides the data indicating the connection request, stores the data in a plurality of data packets,
The information is sequentially supplied to the center router 6 via the TV network 12 (FIG. 10, route Sa).

The center router 6 outputs the supplied packet to the Internet ITN via the bus L2, the router / firewall 11, the bus L1, and the DSU 10 (FIG. 10, line Sa). At this time, the data amount probe 3 determines the transmission source, the data amount, the protocol, etc. of the packet from the contents of the header of the packet passing on the bus L2, and the protocol as shown in FIG. The subscriber number (Host address) is the address of the PC 1a, the transmission amount (ByteOut) is the detected data amount, and the reception amount (B
yteIn) is generated in the csv format indicating that the transmission amount data is 0.

On the other hand, the accessed server returns data in response to the request. The packet containing the data sent by the server is sent from the Internet ITN → DSU10 →
Bus L1 → Router and firewall 11 → Bus L
The route reaches the cable modem 2a through the route 2 → center router 6 → CATV network 12, and is supplied to the PC 1a (FIG. 10, route Sb).

At this time, the data amount probe 3 is connected to the bus L
2 is detected, the protocol as shown in FIG. 2A is IP, the subscriber number (Host address) is the address of the PC 1a, the transmission amount (Byte Out) is 0, and the reception amount (Byte In). Generates transmission amount data, which is the detected data amount.

As described above, the data amount probe 3
Each time data is transmitted on the bus L2, transmission amount data is sequentially generated.

The data amount probe 3 has a function of determining the data amount for each protocol (including data type) of data to be transmitted and received. Therefore, the subscriber number “1993”
For example, when the user of “0612229” accesses the mail server on the Internet ITN using the PC 1a, the data amount probe 3 transmits the packet based on the contents of the header of the packet passing on the bus L2. Determine the original address, data amount, protocol, etc.
In addition to generating the transmission amount data for the above-described IP data, FIG.
The transmission amount data in the csv format as shown in FIG.

Similarly, for example, when the PC 1a accesses a news server on the Internet ITN and reads in news data, the data amount probe 3
The transmission amount data for the IP data described above is generated, and the transmission amount data in the csv format for NNTP (news data) is generated as shown in FIG.

In addition to the IP data, for example, Mac
(Media Access Control)
The data amount probe 3 generates the transmission amount data for Mac data as shown in FIG. 2D without generating the transmission amount data for IP data.

As described above, the internal memory of the data amount probe 3 has, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, a set of a host address and data indicating the amount of data transmitted and received for each protocol. Are stored one row each time data is transmitted or received.

(Charging Process) Next, a charging process performed by using the transmission amount data generated by the data amount probe 3 by the above-described method will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Daily processing) The data amount probe 3 appropriately supplies the transmission amount data stored in the internal memory to the data amount totalizing unit 4 (FIG. 10, route Sc). The data amount tallying unit 4 transmits the transmission data amount (ByteOut) and the reception data amount (B) of the transmission amount data supplied from the data amount probe 3.
yteIn) is accumulated for each IP address (for each PC) and each protocol (for each type of data).
(A)-(D) and by protocol and I
Generate daily transmission amount data for each P address.

The daily transmission amount data generation process is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, the data amount tallying unit 4 calculates n =
As 1 (step S11), the data of the n-th row of the supplied transmission amount data is fetched (step S12). Next, it is determined whether or not the data in the n-th row exists (step S13). If not, the process ends because there is no or no data to be processed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the data of the n-th row exists, the ByteIn and Byt
It is determined whether both eOut is 0 or whether the IP address corresponds to an address set as a target not to be charged (step S14).

When both ByteIn and ByteOut are 0,
There is no need to perform pay-as-you-go billing processing. Therefore, 1 is added to n (step S15), and the process returns to step S12. The data passing on the bus L2 includes
There are also data that are not charged, such as access to the Web server 9 from an external device and communication data between internal devices. Therefore, the PC 1a to be charged is
The line in which an address other than PC1m (an address other than “172. **. *. ***”) is set as the host address is not set as a charging target, and the process proceeds to step S15.

If it is determined in step S14 that the transmission amount and the reception amount of the transmission amount data in the n-th row are not 0 and that the IP address is the IP address of the subscriber, the transmission in the n-th row is performed. The amount data is OSI (Open systems I
nterconnection) reference model Mac (Media Access C)
It is determined whether or not the data is of the (ontrol) layer (step S16).

In this determination, when it is determined that the data is of the Mac layer, the ByteIn and ByteOut of the transmission amount data of the n-th row are compared with the ByteIn and ByteOut of the same address based on the Mac address set as the host address. ByteO
ut is accumulated (step S17). If the row with the same address does not exist, it is added to the data amount 0.

If it is determined in step S16 that the data is not Mac layer data, the protocol of the data is determined, and the transmission amount and the reception amount are accumulated for each protocol (steps S18 to S22). For example, if the acquired transmission amount data of the n-th row is related to the IP data shown in FIG. 2A, “Yes” is determined in step S18, and ByteIn for the same IP address is determined in step S19.
The ByteIn and ByteOut of the nth row are accumulated in the accumulated value of ByteOut and ByteOut.

Similarly, if the fetched transmission amount data of the n-th row relates to the SMTP data (mail data) shown in FIG. 2B, it is determined as Yes in step S20, and the same IP address is determined in step S21. About the address
ByteIn and ByteOut of the n-th row are accumulated in the accumulated value of ByteIn and ByteOut.

If the fetched transmission amount data of the n-th line relates to NNTP data (news data), No is determined in steps S18 and S20, and in step S22, ByteIn and ByteIn for the same IP address are determined.
ByteIn and ByteOut of the n-th row are accumulated in the accumulated value of ByteOut.

When these processes are completed, the flow proceeds to step S15, and the same process is executed for the next line.

When the same processing is executed for all the rows of the transmission amount data supplied from the data amount probe 3, it is determined in step S13 that there is no data, and FIG.
The daily transmission amount data generation process 1 ends.

As described above, the data transmission amount (ByteOut) and data reception amount (Byt) are provided for each protocol and each IP address.
eIn) are sequentially accumulated to generate daily transmission amount data in csv format as illustrated in FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (D).

For example, according to FIG. 4A, the IP data transmitted to the Internet ITN by the PC 1a having the IP address of 172.17.8.251 from midnight of May 31, 1998 to the present time is shown. Is 10285101
Bytes, the amount of data received from the Internet ITN is 169251004 bytes.

Also, according to FIG.
SMT sent by PC1a with IP address 172.17.8.251 from midnight to the present on March 31
The amount of P data (mail data) is 10285 bytes, and the amount of received data is 169251 bytes.

After accumulating the transmission amount data for a certain period (from 0:00 to 2:00 pm), the data amount totaling unit 4 determines that the accumulation of the daily transmission amount data for one day is completed, and sets a new daily Generate transmission amount data. The data amount tallying unit 4 performs the processing at a predetermined timing, for example, every day at 4:00 am
The daily transmission amount data as shown in (D) is transmitted to the data charging server 5 (FIG. 10, route Sd).

On the other hand, the CATV charging server 8 outputs the stored subscriber contract data to the data charging server 5 at a predetermined timing, for example, at 3:00 am every day (FIG. 1).
0, route Se).

First, the data charging server 5 starts a subscriber contract data update process shown in FIG. 12 to detect a subscriber to the Internet connection service, a change in conditions, and the like.

First, the data billing server 5 reads the CAT yesterday.
The subscriber contract data supplied from the V charging server 8 and stored in the internal memory is compared with the currently received subscriber contract data (step S31).

When the data charging server 5 detects a new subscriber by the matching process (not included in the subscriber contract data up to yesterday, but included in today's subscriber contract data) (step S32; Yes), the subscriber's daily transmission data (FIG. 5 (A)) and the subscriber's monthly transmission data (FIG. 5 (B)) are registered in order to register the charging data of the subscriber. Is added (step S33).

On the contrary, when the user whose registration has been deleted is detected by the matching process (step S34; Y
es), the corresponding records of the daily transmission data for each subscriber (FIG. 5 (A)) and the monthly transmission data for each subscriber (FIG. 5 (B)) are deleted (step S35).

Further, the matching process allows the terminal or PC to be used.
Is detected (steps S36 and S38;
Yes), a record corresponding to the accounting file is added (steps S37, S39). In addition, if there is any change, the daily transmission amount data for each subscriber (FIG. 5)
(A)) and monthly transmission volume data by subscriber (Fig. 5 (B))
Is modified (step S40).

As described above, once a day, information such as the subscriber number, terminal number, PC number, and IP address of each subscriber can be updated and used for billing. .

Next, at 4:00 am, the data amount totaling unit 4 transmits the daily transmission amount data obtained in the daily transmission amount data generation processing of FIG. The data charging server 5 receives the daily transmission amount data from the data amount totalizing unit 4, and reads out the subscriber contract data stored in the internal memory (step S51).

Next, regarding billing, SMTP data and N
It is determined whether or not a specific control such as making the NTP data free is set (step S52). In addition,
This setting is set by a system administrator or the like. Here, there is no such setting.

Then, the data accounting server 5 fetches the data relating to the IP data from the supplied daily transmission data (step S53), and based on the updated subscriber contract data, the IP address or the Mac address. Is used as a key to add (accumulate) data for the same address (step S54).

For example, subscriber number 1993061222
If nine subscribers own one cable modem and two PCs connected to the cable modem,
ByteIn and ByteOut are obtained for each IP address, that is, for each PC. However, the actual billing is per subscriber (account unit). Therefore, in step S54, referring to the subscriber contract data, all data amounts belonging to the same account are added using the IP address or the Mac address as a key.
Thus, the total daily transmission data amount for each account is obtained.

The data charging server 5 stores the transmission data amount for each subscriber (for each account) obtained in this manner. As shown in FIG. 5B, the data charging server 5 further stores the data amount for each account from the previous closing date to the previous day, reads this data, and adds the newly obtained data amount. (Step S55). As a result, the transmission amount data for each account from the previous closing date to the current day is obtained.

Next, the data charging server 5 is configured as shown in FIG.
The charge list data shown in FIG. 6 is read, the contract type is determined for each user, and the excess charge up to that point is obtained.
The subscriber-specific fee data shown in (B) is generated and stored (step S56).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S52 that the billing content is controlled, a process corresponding to the control content is performed. For example, "email" and "news"
Service is set to free. in this case,
It is necessary to subtract the amount of data relating to e-mail and news from the amount of data transmitted and received by each user. Therefore,
The data amount of the IP data is fetched for each IP address (step S57).
The data amount of P data is captured (step S58), and the data amount of NNTP data is captured for each IP address (step S59). Subsequently, for each IP address, the amount of data to be charged is obtained by subtracting the amount of SMTP data and the amount of NNTP data from the amount of IP data (step S).
60).

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S54, in which the amount of data to be charged is calculated for each user (for each account), and the amount of data to be charged daily and the amount of data to be charged from the previous closing date to the current day are obtained (step S55). ), And calculate the excess charge at the present time (step S56).

In this manner, the data accounting server 5
Performs addition processing on the daily transmission amount data supplied from the data amount totaling unit 4 for each protocol and for each subscriber to generate billing data. In addition, by calculating the excess charge daily, it is possible to reduce the processing time when generating a monthly excess charge.

(Monthly Processing) Next, monthly processing performed by the data charging server 5 when a predetermined closing date has been reached for each month will be described.

The data accounting server 5 has an internal timer, and when detecting that the current date and time has reached a preset cut-off date, starts the processing shown in FIG. First, monthly fee data including the excess fee, the total transmitted / received data amount, and the closing date calculated in step S56 of FIG. 13 is generated (step S71). The data charging server 5 outputs the generated monthly fee data to the CATV charging server 8 (Step S72). The data billing server 5 stores the daily transmission amount data and the monthly transmission amount data in the Web server 9.
(Step S72).

The CATV charging server 8 receives the monthly fee data from the data charging server 5 (see FIG. 10, route S).
f) According to the received monthly fee data, a process for collecting a connection fee including an excess fee from each subscriber is performed.

Further, the Web server 9 receives the daily transmission amount data and the monthly fee data supplied from the data charging server 5 (route Sg in FIG. 10), and stores the monthly detailed data in HTML format shown in FIG. The daily detailed data in the HTML format shown in FIG. 9 is generated. In this way, monthly excess charges are generated, and daily and monthly detailed data are created.

When an arbitrary user wants to check his / her own billing information, he / she specifies a user ID and a password from his / her PC and requests browsing of the Web server 9. The data output by the PC is CAT via the cable modem 2a.
The data is supplied to the V network 12 and further supplied to the security router 7 via the center router 6. The security router 7 determines whether or not the supplied data is data of a person who has access authority to the Web server 9 based on the input user ID, password, and the like.

When the security router 7 determines that the request is an access request from an authorized person, the security router 7
A browsing request is supplied to the Web server 9 via the.

In response to the reception of the browsing request, the Web server 9 reads out the daily or monthly detailed data of the corresponding user from the detailed data stored therein and transmits it. The detailed data transmitted by the Web server 9 is supplied to the CATV network 12 via the security router 7 and the center router 6, and further transmitted to the PC via the cable modem 2.
1a. The PC 1a receives and displays the supplied detailed data. In this way, the user
On the server b, the user can check his own billing information.

As described above, according to the present invention,
By determining the IP address, protocol, etc. of the data transmitted on the network and totaling them individually, the center side obtains the amount of data transmitted and received by each PC and each user,
Can be charged. Moreover, depending on the protocol,
Flexible settings, such as excluding from billing, are possible.

In the above embodiment, the data amount probe 3 can be constituted by an RMON probe (Remote Network Monitoring) which satisfies the rules of RMON2 (RFC2021), and the data amount totalizing section 4 can be constituted by an RMON manager.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. For example, a data amount probe 3 to be transmitted, a data amount totalizing unit 4 for totalizing the detected data amount, and a data billing server 5 are arranged. The detection, aggregation, and billing processing of the data amount may be executed.

The present invention is suitable for use in an Internet connection service using CATV. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various systems for connecting a computer to a WAN other than the Internet. Also, there is no need to use CATV,
The connection between the telephone line network and the Internet may be made.

Further, in the above embodiment, the CATV charging server 8 transmits the entire subscriber contract data to the data charging server 5, but the items necessary for the charging process, for example, the subscriber number, the IP address, and the charge course Or the like may be transmitted to the data charging server. The fee list data is an example, and an arbitrary course can be set.

The content of the charging control is also arbitrary. For example, for SMTP, an operation such as charging according to the number of mails may be performed. In this case, for example, in FIG.
In steps S57 to S60, a process of subtracting the data amount of the SMTP data from the data amount of the IP data to obtain a fee, and then adding a fee based on the number of mails is required. In addition, an exception for charging and an exception for unit price can be arbitrarily provided. Daily and monthly closing times and dates can be arbitrarily changed.

The internal configuration of the Internet connection system shown in FIG. 1 can be arbitrarily changed.
L3 may be shared. However, it is desirable that the buses L1 and L2 for transmitting data to be charged originally and the bus L3 for transmitting data for charging processing are separated.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of data transmitted by each computer can be centrally determined and aggregated at the center to perform the accounting process. Further, by determining the protocol, flexible charging processing such as charging processing according to the protocol can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an Internet connection system using a CATV network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a diagram showing an example of transmission amount data for each communication generated by the data amount probe shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
Is an example of transmission amount data indicating the transmission amount of IP data, (B)
Is an example of transmission amount data indicating the transmission amount of SMTP data,
(C) is an example of transmission amount data indicating the transmission amount of NNTP data, and (D) is an example of transmission amount data indicating the transmission amount of Mac data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data packet transmitted between a computer and the Internet ITN.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of daily transmission amount data generated by being aggregated for each IP data by the data amount aggregation unit shown in FIG. 1; Example of next transmission amount data, (B) is an example of daily transmission amount data indicating the daily transmission amount of SMTP data, (C) is an example of daily transmission amount data indicating the daily transmission amount of NNTP data, ( D) is M
It is an example of the daily transmission amount data which shows the daily transmission amount of ac data.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of transmission data for each subscriber indicating transmission data amounts aggregated for each subscriber, wherein FIG. 5A shows an example of daily transmission data for each subscriber, and FIG. It is an example of another monthly transmission amount data.

6A is an example of fee list data showing services provided by the network connection system shown in FIG. 1 and their fee settings, and FIG. 6B is an example of subscriber-specific fee data.

7 is a diagram showing an example of subscriber contract data indicating subscribers of services provided by the network connection system shown in FIG. 1 and their contract contents.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a monthly specification presented in response to a request from a subscriber.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a daily specification presented in response to a request from a subscriber.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of data and a request on the network connection system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a daily transmission amount data generation process executed by the data amount totalizing unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a subscriber contract data update process executed by the data charging server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a daily process executed by the data charging server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a closing date process executed by the data charging server shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to 1m Computer (PC), 2a to 2n Cable modem, 3 Data amount probe, 4 Data amount totaling unit, 5 Data billing server, 6 Center Router, 7 Security router, 8 CATV billing server, 9 Web server, 10 DSU, 11 Router and firewall, 12 CATV network, L1
~ L3 ・ ・ ・ Bus, INT ・ ・ ・ Internet

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A network connection system arranged between a plurality of computers and a network and connecting each computer to the network, comprising: a data transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data between the plurality of computers and the network. Monitoring data transmitted by the data transmitting / receiving means,
Detecting means for detecting an address and a data amount; totaling means for totalizing the data amount detected by the detecting means for each address; and charging means for calculating a charging amount based on the total value obtained by the totaling means. A network connection system, characterized in that: 2. A network connection system connected to a plurality of computers via a CATV network, and connecting each computer to the Internet via the CATV network. , C
Data transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data via an ATV network, and monitoring data transmitted through the data transmission / reception means,
Detecting means for detecting an address and a data amount; totaling means for totalizing the data amount detected by the detecting means for each address; and charging means for calculating a charging amount based on the total value obtained by the totaling means. A network connection system, characterized in that: 3. The detecting means includes means for monitoring data transmitted through the data transmitting / receiving means and detecting a protocol of the data, and the counting means includes a data amount detected by the detecting means for each address. The network connection system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that totalizes each protocol. 4. The detecting means includes means for detecting an amount of data transmitted from the computer to the network and an amount of data received by the computer from the network, and the counting means includes a data detecting means for detecting the amount of data detected by the detecting means. A daily tallying means for tallying the amount for each address on a daily basis, and a monthly amount to calculate the amount of data transmitted and received from the previous closing date to the present by accumulating the data amount taught by the daily tallying means from the previous closing date. 4. The network connection according to claim 1, further comprising: a totalizing unit, wherein the charging unit includes a unit for obtaining a charging amount based on the data amount totalized by the monthly totaling unit. 5. system. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said charging means comprises means for storing a computer address for each user, and means for totalizing the amount of data collected for each address for each user. Item 5. The network connection system according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The network connection according to claim 1, wherein said charging means comprises means for subtracting the data amount of the data not to be charged from the total data amount. system. 7. A charging method which is arranged between a plurality of computers and a network, determines an amount of data transmitted and received between each computer and the network, and performs a charging process based on the amount of data. Monitoring data transmitted between the plurality of computers and the network, detecting an address, a protocol, and a data amount; totalizing the detected data amount for each address and each protocol; and calculating a billing amount based on the total value. A billing method characterized by: