JP2001094688A - Billing method, apparatus for executing the method, and recording medium recording the processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a technique capable of adding or changing a service plan in a short time and at low cost. SOLUTION: In a bill creation method for creating a bill based on a service plan of a customer and contents of a service actually used, a function corresponding to a charge type and a processing order of a service plan applied by a customer and a charge type. And a step of creating a billing calculation master table indicating the arguments, and setting the arguments in the function indicated in the created billing master table, calling them according to the processing order, and calculating the charge corresponding to the service plan of each customer And steps.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing apparatus for creating a bill for charging for a provided service, and more particularly to a variety of service utilization modes (service plans) expected in telephone services. The present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a billing device that adds or changes the bill in a short period of time and at low cost to generate a bill for telephone charges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The telephone service has been changed from the authorization system of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to the notification system, and competition for providing new services related to telephone charges has intensified. As a result, a wide variety of service plans were considered, and the cycle of addition or change was shortened.

A conventional telephone billing system is:
It has a charge calculation logic and a bill creation logic for each service plan, and executes each logic according to the user's use service to create a bill for each user. Therefore, when a new service plan is added, a charge calculation logic and a bill creation logic for the new service plan are newly created, and the charge of the service plan is newly added to the charge table. In addition, with regard to the change of existing service plans, it was possible to respond to a simple fee revision etc. just by changing the tariff table without changing the charge calculation logic. The change could not be accommodated without changing the charge calculation logic and billing logic.

[0004] An electronic exchange system capable of automatically changing the billing data of the billing device when the call charge is revised is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-014553.

[0005]

In the conventional addition or change of the service plan, the charge calculation and the billing logic are created and changed. Therefore, a development period suitable for the service function is required. Cost proportional to the period was required. In addition, in the case of adding a service plan, logic for determining which service plan to call a function corresponding to is newly created, so that the processing time required for the determination process increases with the addition of the service plan, and the operating cost is increased. Was also higher. In particular, when the process of selecting and calling a specific function from a plurality of functions corresponding to each service plan is performed for each of an enormous number of customers such as over tens of thousands, the processing time is increased together with the addition of the service plan. There is a problem of a large increase.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a technique capable of adding or changing a service plan in a short time and at low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing an increase in processing time due to the addition of a service plan.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a billing apparatus for creating a bill based on a customer's service plan and the contents of a service actually used, the types of charges and the order of processing corresponding to the customer's service plan, and the types of charges Is calculated using a table having information indicating the function corresponding to and the argument.

[0009] The fee calculation of the service fee is realized by a combination of the type of fee, a calculation formula and a calculation element. The types of charges include call charges, discount charges, basic charges, and one-time charges, and the calculation formulas include charge aggregation, discount rate multiplication, charge proration, charge apportionment, and tax calculation.

In the present invention, for each service plan, the type of charge, calculation formula (function), calculation element (argument of the function), their combination and processing order are defined in the service definition table and the charge code table, and the table is defined. By adding to or changing the combination, the service plan can be added or changed flexibly.

[0011] When calculating a charge corresponding to a service plan, a charge calculation master table showing functions and arguments corresponding to the charge types and processing order of the service plan applied by the customer, the charge type, and the like is created. Then, the arguments are set to the function shown in the created billing master table, and the function is called according to the processing order shown in the table to calculate the fee corresponding to the service plan of each customer.

According to the above-described mechanism, when a new service plan is commercialized or a service plan that has already been commercialized is changed, the definition of the service definition table and the charge code table are added or changed. As a result, there is no need for program development, and a wide variety of telephone services can be realized in a short period of time. Note that the functions are subdivided into basic calculation logic, so that it is possible to flexibly cope with the charge calculation of various service plans by combining the functions and setting the arguments.

Further, at the time when the service plan applied by the customer is registered, a billing master table indicating the type of charge and the processing order of the service plan applied is created, and the fee of the created billing master table is created. A billing calculation master table indicating the functions corresponding to the types and their arguments may be created at the time of charge calculation.

In this case, since the charge is calculated according to the charge type in the charge master table created at the time of application, unnecessary calculation logic such as judging the charge type at the time of charge calculation is not executed. As a result, even if a service plan is added, processing logic for determining the type of fee is not added, so that the processing time is kept constant even if the type of service plan increases.

As described above, according to the billing apparatus of the present invention, the charge calculation is performed by reading out the logic function for calculating the charge corresponding to the service plan of the customer, the argument given to the function, and the processing order from the table. It is possible to add or change a service plan in a short period of time and at low cost.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A billing apparatus according to one embodiment for creating a bill for billing telephone charges based on a service plan of a customer and the contents of telephone services actually used will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a bill creation process according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the bill creation apparatus of the present embodiment has a bill master table creation processing unit 1, a bill calculation master table creation processing unit 2, and a charge calculation processing unit 3.

The billing master table creation processing unit 1 determines, when a service plan is applied from a customer, the types of charges of the service plan applied by the customer and the processing order of the processing corresponding to each type of charge. This is a processing unit that creates a billing master table F3 shown for each customer.

Billing calculation master table creation processing unit 2
Is a function that executes the processing corresponding to the type and order of charges of the service plan applied by the customer and the type of charge when creating an invoice based on the contents of the telephone service actually used by the customer. Is a processing unit that creates a billing calculation master table F7 indicating the arguments

The charge calculation processing unit 3 sets an argument corresponding to the contents of the telephone service actually used by the customer in the function shown in the created charge calculation master table F7,
A processing unit that calls up in accordance with the processing order and calculates a fee corresponding to the service plan of each customer.

A program for causing the billing device to function as the billing master table creation processing unit 1, the billing calculation master table creation processing unit 2, and the charge calculation processing unit 3 is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape and executed. Shall be. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than a magnetic tape.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the bill generating apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the billing device of the present embodiment includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a magnetic disk device 203, an input device 204, and a display device 2.
05 and a magnetic tape device 206.

The CPU 201 is a device for controlling the operation of the entire billing device. The memory 202 is a storage device for loading various processing programs for calculating a fee according to a service plan for each customer. The magnetic disk device 203 is a storage device that stores various data indicating functions and arguments corresponding to the various processing programs and service plans.

The input device 204 is a device for inputting an operation instruction to the bill creation device. The display device 205 is a device that displays the operation status of the bill creation device. The magnetic tape device 206 is a device that reads the contents of the magnetic tape on which the various processing programs are recorded.

In the billing apparatus of the present embodiment, information on the telephone service plan applied by the customer using the telephone is registered as service application information F1. Also,
A service definition table F2 in which the types of charges for charge calculation (hereinafter referred to as charge codes) and the processing order are created is created.

The billing master table creation processing unit 1 determines a charge code from the service plan applied by the customer,
Service definition table F2 to billing master table F
3 to generate a billing master table F3 of charge codes and processing orders for each customer. If the service plan is to charge a basic charge in addition to a predetermined charge calculation, a charge code corresponding to the basic charge is also generated in the charge master table F3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the billing master table F3 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the service definition table F2 of this embodiment includes a service plan F
12, the name of the charge code F21 and the name of the processing order F22 are stored. For example, the charge code F21 corresponding to “discount X” of the service plan F12 is “WARI_X” and “WARI_X_KIHON”, and the processing order F22 is “2”.
It is.

In the charge code table F4 of this embodiment, a charge code table F4 in which functions and arguments are defined for each charge code is created, and the billing calculation master table creation processing unit 2 executes the charge master table F3 created earlier. The function and the argument corresponding to the code are extracted, and the contents of the call charge information F6, which is the basis of the charge calculation, and the contents of the adjustment charge etc. registration information F5 indicating the temporarily generated charge are registered in the billing calculation master table F7. I do.

The function has logic for calculating the charge of the corresponding charge code, and the arguments include a call charge and a discount rate of the charge, whether or not the service is canceled or subscribed during subscription, a discount for a plurality of telephone line users. Set the apportionment / correction method of the amount, the processing result of other functions, the fee temporarily generated, and the like. Here, the fee that is temporarily generated includes a subscription fee that is incurred at the time of service subscription and an adjustment fee due to a claim.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the billing calculation master table F7 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the charge code table F4 of the present embodiment has a charge code 21
Are stored for the function F41 and the name of the argument F42. For example, the function F41 for performing the process corresponding to “KOKUNAI” of the fee code F21 is “Kokunai_tsuwa”, and the argument F42 is “domestic call fee”. Here, "Domestic call charge" of argument F42 indicates the total amount of domestic call charge before applying the service plan, and "Kokunai_tsuwa" of function F41 is calculated based on "Domestic call charge" of argument F42. The processing for selecting the call charges to which the plan is applied is performed. Also, the function F4
1 is divided into basic calculation logics such as selection of data to be applied, calculation of a discount rate, calculation of a basic rate, and calculation of a consumption tax. Service plan F1
2 can be realized flexibly.

The charge calculation processing section 3 of this embodiment calls and executes a function for a charge code for each customer registered in the charge calculation master table F7 from a function library by a process such as a dynamic link in a processing order. The calculation result is output as bill information F8 and becomes input information for bill printing.

When a new service plan is commercialized, the correspondence is completed by adding the new service plan and the corresponding existing charge code to the service definition table F2. When a user applies for a new service plan, a billing master table F3 is generated by the above-described mechanism, and a bill is created. In the case where a service plan that cannot be handled by a combination of an existing charge code and a function is commercialized, a new charge code F21, a function F41, and an argument F42 are added to the charge code table F4.

Next, the processing flow of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the billing master table creation processing of the present embodiment. The billing master table creation processing unit 1 of the present embodiment performs the following processing when a service use application is made by a user.

First, in step 1, the billing master table creation processing section 1 acquires a customer number F11, a service plan F12, a telephone number F13, a change category F14, and a use period F15 as service application information F1 from the application form G1.

Next, in step 2, the service plan F of the service application information F1 is obtained from the service definition table F2.
As the contents corresponding to No. 12, a charge code F21 and a processing order F22 are acquired. In step 3, the obtained service application information F1 and the service definition table F2
A billing master table F3 is created as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the billing calculation master table creation processing of this embodiment.
Claim calculation master table creation processing unit 2 of the present embodiment
Performs the following processing when an invoice creation instruction is input from the online terminal or the batch parameter G2.

First, at step 4, the billing calculation master table creation processing unit 2 acquires the customer number F11 of the bill creation target person from the bill creation instruction contents. In step 5,
From the billing master table F3, as the contents corresponding to the customer number F11 of the billing target person, the service plan F
12, telephone number F13, charge code F21 and processing order F
22 is acquired.

Next, in step 6, the charge code F21 of the billing master table F3 is obtained from the charge code table F4.
, The names of the function F41 and the argument F42 are acquired. In step 7, the content corresponding to the customer number F11 of the billing person is acquired from the call fee information F6, and set as an argument F42 of the function F41 of the fee code F21 corresponding to the customer number F11.

Next, in step 8, information such as an adjustment fee for the billing target person is acquired from the adjustment fee etc. registration information F5 as contents corresponding to the customer number F11 of the billing target person, and the acquired information is stored in the customer number F11. Corresponding charge code F2
It is set as the argument F42 of the function F41 of No. 1. In step 9, the contents of the acquired billing master table F3, the contents of the charge code F21, and the call charge information F
A billing calculation master table F7 is created based on the content of the registration information F5 and the registration information F5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the charge calculation processing according to this embodiment. In step 10, the charge calculation processing unit 3 of this embodiment acquires the contents of the billing calculation master table F7 in accordance with the order of the customer number F11 and the processing order F22.

In step 11, an argument F42 is set in the function F41 set in the acquired billing calculation master table F7, and the charge calculation is executed by calling the function F42.

In step 12, it is checked whether or not a record having the same customer number exists in the billing calculation master table F7.
Returning to step 0 and step 11 for the record of the billing calculation master table F7 having the same customer number
Is repeated. When the charge calculation for the same customer number is completed, the processing result is output to the bill information F8 in step S13.

In step 14, it is checked whether or not the above processing has been performed for all the customer numbers stored in the billing calculation master table F7. The above processing is performed for all customer numbers stored in the billing calculation master table F7.

As described above, when a new service plan is commercialized or a service plan that has already been commercialized is changed, the definitions of the service definition table F2 and the charge code table F4 are added or changed. , And a wide variety of telephone services can be realized in a short period of time without the need for program development. Note that functions are subdivided into basic calculation logics, and can be flexibly realized by setting combinations and arguments.

In the present embodiment, since charge calculation is performed according to the charge type in the billing master table F3 created at the time of application, unnecessary calculation logic such as judging the charge type at the time of charge calculation may be executed. Absent. As a result, even if a service plan is added, processing logic for determining the type of fee is not added, so that the processing time is kept constant even if the type of service plan increases.

As described above, according to the billing apparatus of the present embodiment, the logic function for calculating the fee corresponding to the service plan of the customer, the argument given to the function, and the processing order are read from the table and the fee is calculated. Therefore, it is possible to add or change the service plan in a short period of time and at low cost.

Further, according to the billing apparatus of the present embodiment, the process of judging the type of charge at the time of calculating the charge is omitted by using the charge master table indicating the type of charge and the processing order of the service plan applied by the customer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in processing time due to the addition of a service plan.

[0048]

According to the present invention, the logic function for calculating the charge corresponding to the service plan of the customer, the argument given to the function and the processing order are read from the table and the charge calculation is performed. It can be performed in a short time and at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a bill creation process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a billing device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a billing master table F3 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a billing calculation master table F7 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a billing master table creation process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a billing calculation master table creation process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a fee calculation process according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

G1: Application form, G2: Online terminal or batch parameter, F1: Service application information, F2: Service definition table, F3: Billing master table, F4: Charge code table, F5: Adjustment charge registration information, F6: Call charge information , F7 ... billing calculation master table, F8 ... bill information, 1 ... billing master table creation processing unit, 2 ...
Bill calculation master table creation processing unit, 3 ... charge calculation processing unit, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... memory, 203 ... magnetic disk device, 204 ... input device, 205 ... display device,
206: magnetic tape device, F11: customer number, F12:
Service plan, F13: Phone number, F14: Change category, F15: Usage period, F21: Charge code, F22 ...
Processing order, F41 function, F42 argument.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Higashi 890 Kashimada, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Information Systems Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Konno 4-7-1 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan Inside Telecom Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Suda 4-7-1, Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan Telecom Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Eiji Kawai 4-7-1, Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan Telecom Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5K025 AA01 AA05 CC01 FF13 FF17 FF22 GG12 GG21 GG25 HH06 JJ02 JJ18

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A billing method for creating a bill based on a customer's service plan and the contents of a service actually used, the billing method corresponding to the kind of service plan applied by the customer, the order of processing, and the kind of fee. A step of creating a billing calculation master table indicating the functions and their arguments; setting arguments to the functions indicated in the created billing master table, calling them according to the processing order, and calculating the billing corresponding to the service plan of each customer. Performing a billing method. 2. A step of creating a billing master table indicating the types of charges and the processing order of the service plan applied by the customer, wherein a function corresponding to the kind of charges in the created billing master table and its argument are defined. 2. The bill creation method according to claim 1, wherein a bill calculation master table shown is created. 3. When a service plan is added or changed, a service definition table indicating a type of charge and a processing order of the service plan and a charge code table indicating a function corresponding to the type of charge and its argument are defined. 3. The bill creation method according to claim 1, wherein the bill creation method is added or changed. 4. An invoice creation apparatus for creating an invoice based on a customer's service plan and the contents of a service actually used, wherein the invoice creation device corresponds to the type of service plan applied by the customer, the order of processing, and the type of fee. A billing calculation master table creation processing unit for creating a billing calculation master table indicating functions and their arguments; and setting arguments in the functions indicated in the created billing master table and calling them according to the processing order to provide a service plan for each customer. And a charge calculation processing unit for calculating a charge corresponding to (1). 5. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a billing device that creates a bill based on the service plan of the customer and the contents of the service actually used. A billing master table creation processing unit for creating a billing master table indicating functions and their arguments corresponding to the kind and processing order of the fee of the service plan, and the billing master table shown in the created billing master table A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as a charge calculation processing unit for setting an argument in a function, calling the function in accordance with a processing order, and calculating a charge corresponding to a service plan of each customer is recorded.