JP4112769B2 - Communication service system, communication system, communication charge management device, and communication charge change method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication service system, a communication system, a communication charge management device, and a communication charge changing method that can charge a prepaid communication charge (such as a communication charge) to a postpaid communication charge.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, communication charges are managed according to the amount of communication (calls), and communication charges are billed collectively later. In addition, it is possible to prepay a communication fee (prepaid) by purchasing a prepaid card and perform communication later.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication service system. The communication service system shown in FIG. 1 includes a subscriber exchange (MLS: Mobile Local Switch) 130 and a charge system 170, and provides communication services to the mobile devices 110 and 120. The fee system 170 manages the communication fee of the mobile device.
[0004]
For example, it is assumed that the subscriber A communicates (calls) with the subscriber B having the mobile device 120 via the subscriber exchange 130 using the mobile device 110 of the mobile phone 110 ((a) in FIG. 1). When the communication is completed, the subscriber exchange 130 requests the fee system 170 to increase the communication fee of the mobile device 110 according to the amount of communication ((b)). The fee system 170 charges the communication fee to the subscriber at regular intervals, for example ((c)).
[0005]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the communication service system. The communication service system shown in FIG. 2 includes a subscriber exchange 230, a card service control device (MCSCP) 240, a service order system (ALADIN) 250, and a service control node (MSCP) 260. And providing a communication service to the mobile devices 210 and 220.
[0006]
For example, consider a case where a subscriber A who has purchased a prepaid card performs a charge (approach) operation on his mobile device 210. First, the subscriber A dials a special number for frequency charge (communication possible) using the mobile device 210 ((a) of FIG. 2). Next, the number written on the prepaid card is input ((b)). In this way, the card service control device 240 receives a frequency (prepaid frequency) charge request from the mobile device 210 via the subscriber exchange 230 ((c)). At that time, the prepaid card number is received. The mobile device 210 number is also received. The card service control device 240 checks the received prepaid card number ((d)). If the prepaid card number is not illegal, the card service control device 240 converts the prepaid card number into a corresponding prepaid frequency (communication possible frequency). Then, the prepaid frequency and the number of the mobile device 210 are transmitted to the service control node 260 via the service order system 250 ((e)). The service control node 260 adds the prepaid frequency to the current communicable frequency of the mobile device 210 ((f)), and transmits the addition result (charge result) to the card service control device 240 ((g)). The card service control device 240 transmits the addition result (charge result) to the mobile device 210 ((h)).
[0007]
After charging, the mobile device 210 can communicate (call) with, for example, the mobile device 220 via the subscriber exchange 230 ((i)). After the communication is completed, the subscriber exchange 230 requests the service control node 260 to reduce the current communicable frequency of the mobile device 210 according to the communication frequency (communication amount) ((j)). The service control node 260 reduces the current communicable frequency of the mobile device 210 ((k)).
[0008]
In the above example, the prepaid card number is converted into the communicable frequency, but it may be converted into a communicable charge.
[0009]
It would be convenient if the postpaid (invoice payment) communication fee as shown in FIG. 1 could be charged with the prepaid communication amount (prepaid communication fee, communication possible frequency, etc.) as shown in FIG.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to charge a prepaid communication fee (such as a communication fee) from a mobile device or the like of a postpaid communication fee.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a communication service system comprising a terminal that performs communication, a prepaid communicable amount management means, and a communication charge management means, and a terminal that requests charging. And a charge requesting terminal, and the charging requesting terminal has input means for inputting prepaid identification information for identifying a prepaid card to be used, and identification information transmitting means for transmitting the input prepaid identification information. The prepaid communicable amount management means receives the prepaid identification information and the prepaid management information for managing the prepaid communicable amount corresponding to the information, and the prepaid identification information and the identification information of the charging destination terminal from the terminal requesting charging. Determines whether the prepaid management means holds the received prepaid identification information and holds it Means for converting the received prepaid identification information into a prepaid communicable amount corresponding to the information, and transmitting the converted prepaid communicable amount and the received charge destination terminal identification information to the communication fee management unit; The communication fee management means receives the terminal identification information and the communication fee corresponding to the information, and receives the prepaid communication possible amount and the charge destination terminal identification information from the prepaid communication possible amount management means. And a means for reducing the communication fee corresponding to the received charge destination terminal identification information according to the possible amount.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 2 is the communication service system according to claim 1, wherein the communication charge management means mediates communication of the terminal and increases the communication charge of the terminal according to the communication amount of the terminal. It is further characterized by further comprising an exchange that requires the above.
[0015]
A third aspect of the present invention is the communication service system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the prepaid identification information is described in the prepaid card, and the prepaid card can be distributed.
[0016]
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the communication service system according to the first, second, or third aspect, wherein the terminal is a mobile device.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the communication service system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and a terminal that communicates with the communication service system.
[0019]
The invention according to claim 6 manages the communication fee corresponding to the terminal that performs communication, the prepaid communication amount management means for managing the prepaid communication amount corresponding to the prepaid identification information and information, and the terminal identification information and information A communication charge changing method in a communication service system comprising a communication charge management means for receiving and receiving input of prepaid identification information for identifying a prepaid card to be used at a terminal requesting charging among terminals performing communication. Transmitting the prepaid identification information received, the prepaid communication amount management means receiving the prepaid identification information from the terminal requesting the charge and the identification information of the charging destination terminal among the terminals performing communication, and prepaid communication possible Received prepaid identification in quantity management means It is determined whether or not the information is held by the prepaid management means. When it is determined that the information is held, the received prepaid identification information is converted into a prepaid communication amount corresponding to the information, and the converted prepaid communication is possible. The amount and the received charge destination terminal identification information from the prepaid communicable amount management means to the communication charge management means, and the communication charge management means according to the received prepaid communicable amount received And a step of reducing the communication fee corresponding to the information.
[0022]
The invention described in claim 7 is the communication charge changing method according to claim 6, wherein the prepaid identification information is described in the prepaid card, and the prepaid card can be distributed.
[0023]
8. The communication charge changing method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the terminal is a mobile device.
[0024]
According to the above configuration, a prepaid communication amount (such as a communication possible fee) can be charged to a postpaid communication fee.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication service system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication service system shown in FIG. 3 includes a subscriber exchange 330, a card service control device 340, and a fee system 370, and provides communication services to the mobile devices 310 and 320. In the present embodiment, the card service control device 340 and the fee system 370 are configured separately, but it is also conceivable to configure both as a single unit.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, a prepaid for a communicable amount (here, a communicable fee) is performed by purchasing a prepaid card in which a prepaid card number is described. However, if each prepaid can be identified, the prepaid is not necessarily performed through the prepaid card. In addition, information (characters or the like) other than the card number may be used to identify each prepaid. Further, the communicable amount may be handled as, for example, frequency, time, etc. other than the (communication possible) fee.
[0028]
The prepaid card can be distributed. For example, it can be a scratch card whose number is concealed with a seal, and can be sold at a convenience store or the like. The user can remove (scratch) the seal and obtain the number. As the prepaid card, for example, types such as 1000 yen, 3000 yen and 5000 yen can be provided. The prepaid card number can be, for example, a randomly generated number (for example, 12 digits or 14 digits) using a random number.
[0029]
The prepaid card number and the communicable amount (communicable fee) corresponding to the card number are managed by the card service control device 340. Further, the mobile device and the (current) communication fee of the mobile device, more specifically, the mobile device identification information and the communication fee corresponding to the information are managed by the fee system 370.
[0030]
Here, it is assumed that the subscriber A communicates (calls) with the subscriber B having the mobile device 320 through the subscriber exchange 330 using his / her mobile device 310 ((a) in FIG. 3). When the communication is completed, the subscriber exchange 330 requests the fee system 370 to increase the communication fee of the mobile device 310 according to the communication amount ((b)).
[0031]
Then, consider a case where a subscriber A who has purchased a prepaid card performs a charge (approach) operation on his mobile device 310. First, the subscriber A uses the mobile device 310 (communication possible) to dial a special number for charging charges ((c)). Next, the number written on the prepaid card and the mobile number of the charge destination (here, the number of the mobile device 310) are input ((d)). As the mobile number of the charging destination, the number of the mobile device 310 of its own may be input, or the number of another mobile device (for example, the mobile device 320) may be input. Here, for example, when the input of the charging destination mobile device number is omitted, the mobile device 310 of its own may be determined as the charging destination mobile device.
[0032]
In this way, the card service control device 340 receives a charge (prepaid charge) charge request from the mobile device 310 via the subscriber exchange 330 ((e)). At that time, the prepaid card number and the charge destination mobile device number are received.
[0033]
The card service control device 340 checks the received prepaid card number ((f)). Here, for example, when an input error is made three times in one connection, the connection can be forcibly disconnected. Possible mistakes include, for example, entering a used card number, entering a nonexistent card number, or entering a stolen / lost card number. In addition, for example, it is possible to restrict the charge charge (make charge charge impossible) with 5 forced disconnections per day.
[0034]
If the prepaid card number is not illegal, the card service control device 340 converts the prepaid card number into a corresponding prepaid fee (communication available fee). When the communicable amount is handled as the communicable frequency, the prepaid card number may be converted into a communicable frequency and further converted into a communicable fee. Then, the prepaid fee and the charge destination mobile device number are transmitted to the fee system 370 ((g)). The fee system 370 reduces the communication fee of the charge destination mobile device (here, the mobile device 310), that is, the communication fee corresponding to the charge destination mobile device number, according to the prepaid fee ((h)). Here, the prepaid fee is simply subtracted from the communication fee of the charging destination mobile device. When handling the communicable amount as the communicable frequency, the fee system 370 receives the communicable frequency from the card service control device 340, converts the communicable frequency into a communicable fee, The converted communication possible fee may be reduced. Thus, the prepaid communication possible amount can be charged to the postpaid communication fee.
[0035]
Thereafter, the fee system 370 charges the communication fee reflecting the charging result to the subscriber A ((i)).
[0036]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where a mobile device requesting charging is different from a charging destination mobile device. The basic flow is the same as in FIG. In step (d) of FIG. 3, the subscriber A can also designate the mobile device 320 as the charge destination mobile device ((d) of FIG. 4). When the fee system 370 receives the number of the mobile device 320 as the charge destination mobile device number, it subtracts the prepaid fee from the communication fee of the mobile device 320 ((h) in FIG. 4).
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the card service control apparatus according to the present embodiment. The card service control device 340 includes a service scenario control unit 342, database machines 344 and 346, and a database 348. The database 348 stores prepaid card numbers, charge information corresponding to the prepaid card numbers, charge history, and the like. A prepaid card that has been charged is used. The database machines 344 and 346 manage the database. In the present embodiment, the active system and the standby system have a dual configuration. The service scenario control unit 342 performs various controls.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile communication system including a mobile device. However, the present invention can also be applied to a communication system including other types of terminals (for example, fixed terminals (telephones)). .
[0039]
Further, in the present embodiment, the mobile device requesting charging may be different from the charging destination mobile device, but both must be the same, that is, only the mobile device requesting charging can be charged. It can also be done.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a prepaid communication amount (such as a communication fee) can be charged to a postpaid communication fee.
[0041]
Thereby, for example, there is an advantage that a communication fee for bill payment can be settled in advance with a prepaid card, and a prepaid card obtained as a gift can be used for payment of a past communication fee. There is also the convenience of being able to make online payments from mobile devices. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the exchange to subtract the prepaid fee, and the processing burden on the exchange can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication service system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the communication service system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where a mobile device requesting charging is different from a charging destination mobile device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a card service control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
110, 120, 210, 220, 310, 320 Mobile station 130, 230, 330 Subscriber exchange 170, 370 Charge system 240, 340 Card service controller 250 Service order system 260 Service control node 342 Service scenario controller 344, 346 Database Machine 348 database

Claims (8)

A communication service system comprising a terminal that performs communication, a prepaid communicable amount management means, and a communication charge management means,
It further includes a terminal requesting charging and a charging destination terminal,
The terminal requesting the charge is
Input means for inputting prepaid identification information for identifying a prepaid card to be used, and identification information transmitting means for transmitting the input prepaid identification information,
The prepaid communicable amount management means includes:
Prepaid management means for managing prepaid identification information and a prepaid communicable amount corresponding to the information;
Upon receiving the identification information of the prepaid identifier and the charge destination terminal from the terminal which requests the charge, to determine whether the prepaid identification information to the received said prepaid management means holds and retains Means for converting the received prepaid identification information into a prepaid communicable amount corresponding to the information, and transmitting the converted prepaid communicable amount and the received charge destination terminal identification information to the communication fee management unit when judged And
The communication fee management means includes:
Means for managing terminal identification information and a communication fee corresponding to the information;
Upon receiving the prepaid communicable amount and the charge destination terminal identification information from the prepaid communicable amount management means, the communication fee corresponding to the received prepaid communicable amount is reduced according to the received prepaid communicable amount And a communication service system.   The communication service system according to claim 1, further comprising: an exchange that mediates communication of a terminal and requests the communication charge management means to increase a communication charge of the terminal according to a communication amount of the terminal. A communication service system characterized by comprising.   3. The communication service system according to claim 1, wherein the prepaid identification information is described in a prepaid card, and the prepaid card can be distributed.   4. The communication service system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the terminal is a mobile device.   A communication system comprising: the communication service system according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and a terminal that communicates with the communication service system. A communication terminal, prepaid identification information and a prepaid communicable amount managing means for managing the prepaid communicable amount corresponding to the information, and a communication charge managing means for managing the terminal identification information and a communication fee corresponding to the information. A communication charge changing method in a communication service system provided,
Receiving input of prepaid identification information for identifying a prepaid card to be used at a terminal that requests charging among the terminals that perform the communication, and transmitting the received prepaid identification information;
In the prepaid communicable amount management unit, a step of receiving the identification information of the charge destination terminal of the terminals performing the prepaid identifier and the communication from the terminal that requests the charge,
In the prepaid communicable amount management means, it is determined whether or not the prepaid management means holds the received prepaid identification information. If it is determined that the prepaid management information is held, the received prepaid identification information is stored in the information. Converting to a corresponding prepaid communication capacity,
Transmitting the converted prepaid communicable amount and the received charge destination terminal identification information from the prepaid communicable amount management unit to the communication fee management unit;
The communication fee management means, comprising: a step of reducing a communication fee corresponding to the received charge destination terminal identification information in accordance with the received prepaid communication possible amount.   7. The communication charge changing method according to claim 6, wherein the prepaid identification information is written on a prepaid card, and the prepaid card can be distributed.   8. The communication charge changing method according to claim 6, wherein the terminal is a mobile device.

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