TWI478608B - The System and Method of Linkage Pricing for Communication Service - Google Patents

Description

Linked charging and pricing system and method for communication service usage

The invention relates to a linked charging and pricing system and method for communication service usage. The system is constructed on the computer program software technology, and can quickly provide a linkage communication billing preferential service for various tariff packages and communication products.

In the early pricing system, in the pricing process of its core components, the transaction pricing for a single communication record can only be set according to the "rate table" of the system, according to the customer's rate package, service category, call location, or If the call category and other information are charged for the call fee, if it exceeds the setting range of the "rate table", it will not be able to provide a more flexible single communication call pricing treatment. This core component of the rating has been found in the previous case of the Republic of China Invention Patent No. 200511762 "Mobile Internet Responsibility Rate Management System", which is based on the setting of the rate table. When tariffs and communication products adjust their offers, or if they want to offer more favorable rates to customers, they usually have to modify their original rate schedule settings or establish new tariff and communication product rate information; therefore, it is not possible to In the case of the original general price processing rules and the setting of the non-reaction rate schedule, the rating system is provided with a variety of flexible pricing options for various tariffs and communication products.

It can be seen that there are still many shortcomings in the above-mentioned household items, which is not a good designer and needs to be improved.

In view of the shortcomings derived from the above-mentioned conventional systems, the inventor of the present invention succeeded in researching and developing the linked billing and pricing system and method for the use of the communication service.

The object of the present invention is to propose a linked charging and pricing system and method for communication service usage, which is based on the principle of not affecting the general price processing process and the setting of the original rate table, and the linked charging method. Adjusting the call record should be charged in seconds, you can quickly provide the rating system in its various tariffs (such as 3G general-type tariffs, 3G everyone talk...etc) and communication products (such as F2 hotline, my hotline...etc.) More and more flexible rate pricing options.

The second object of the present invention is to make the linked communication charging mechanism independent and unrelated to the general rating process, and also represents all the functions of strengthening the rating requirement, and is also independent of the linked communication charging mechanism, and is a rating. The system reserves more flexibility to accommodate future changes.

The linked charging and billing system for communication service usage of the present invention has a batch operation process, and the system includes at least a mediation device (MD) switch interface data processing for processing a call record, and the The call record is transmitted to the internal linked billing function module of the rating operation processing; the linked billing function module has a linked communication charging and billing setting module and a linked communication billing execution module. Processing and receiving the call record, and preferentially adjusting the number of seconds that each communication record should be charged, and then transmitting to the general rating processing module, thereby determining the rating rule, generating a preferential price for the communication fee; the linked communication charging setting module In order to process each call record, according to the type of communication products requested by the customer, the data in the linked billing type list is dynamically obtained, and the customer's billing and free traffic on each call record is dynamically obtained. The preferential ratio value is transmitted to the linked communication billing execution module for calculation; the linked billing type list is used to define the communication product to be joined to the linked billing The data provides the billing communication amount and the free traffic ratio parameter value of each linked billing type of the linked communication billing setting module; and the linked communication billing execution module is connected by the linkage type The data in the billing rules table confirms whether the customer's per-call record meets the linkable billing rules, and then re-adjusts the number of seconds that each call record should be charged according to the discount ratio setting value obtained by the linked communication billing setting module. And finally transmitted to the pricing component processing of the general rating processing module; the linked charging rules table is used to define a combination of traffic combinations and communication areas allowed for each linked charging, and provide the linked communication charging execution The module judges the use; the general price processing module is for the call record of the linked communication billing execution module, and is connected with the rate table, and the telephone bill is charged according to the data in the rate table, and the communication fee is generated. The preferential price; and the rate table, which is used to define the rate information of various communication products, and provides the pricing component of the general rating processing module to calculate the communication fee.

The linked charging and charging system for communication service usage as described above, wherein the linked charging type table further includes a linked charging type representative number, a linked charging product code, and a linked charging service code. , the amount of calls required, the amount of free calls and the date of activation.

The linked billing type table can be set to the "Linked Billing Service Code" parameter to add the tariff package type, set the "Linked Billing Product Code" parameter to join the communication product category, and set the "required billing volume". And "free call volume" to determine the proportion of linked communication billing discount.

However, the linked charging rule table further includes a linked charging type representative number, a call behavior, a calling area, a called area, a fee account category, an activation date, and an expiration date.

Further, the linked charging rule table may set a "call behavior" parameter to define various types of traffic combinations allowed for each linked charging offer, and set "send zone code" and "received area code" parameters to determine Communication area combination.

In addition, the linked communication charging execution module and the linked communication charging setting module are independently executed outside the general rating processing module, and do not affect the general rating processing flow, and have no dependency relationship with each other.

A method for linked charging and pricing of communication service usage of the present invention, the steps of which may at least include:

(a) The linked billing function module captures the type of customer tariff for a single customer call record, the special service or offer type of the application, the type of call behavior, the calling area, the called area, etc., and is converted into a program that can be processed. Information format.

(b) The linked communication charging setting module combines the information into a key value, and the linked charging type list is used to string out the linked charging preferential type that the customer meets.

(c) The linked communication charging execution module determines and confirms whether the customer's calling behavior conforms to the rules of the linkable charging by using the linked charging rule table.

(d) The linked communication billing execution module sets the two types of "no time period" or "minute time period" according to the customer's original tariff rate, and performs different single communication cross-time linked billing processing.

(e) The linked communication billing execution module re-adjusts the number of seconds that each communication record should be charged according to the type of linked billing offer.

(f) The general rating processing module calculates the post-concession price of the customer's call record by using the general rating rules and the rate setting set internally.

(g) Transfer the data rating process to the application of the rating data storage and call details.

As described above, the linked service charging method of the communication service usage, wherein the "time-scheduled" processing system cuts out points at different time points first, and each sub-period is processed according to the "no-time interval" linked billing process. Ways to calculate offers.

The linked billing and pricing system and method for achieving the communication service usage of the above invention aims to increase the linked communication billing setting module flow and the linked communication billing execution module flow outside the general rating process module. Through the setting of parameters, we can quickly provide linked billing concessions for various tariff packages and communication products, and adjust each communication record by checking the eligibility of linked billing according to various combinations of traffic and communication areas. The number of seconds should be charged, and then the rating rules are determined, resulting in a preferential price for communication fees.

Please refer to Figure 1 for the main flow chart of the batch operation. It is divided into "MEDIATION DEVICE (MD) switch interface data processing", "Batch operation processing", and "Batch data storage and call details". "Application"", the "Linked Billing Function Module 10" diagram in the "Labor Processing" is the module architecture diagram of the linked billing and pricing system for the communication service usage of the present invention. The processing flow of the "linked charging function module 10" is independent of the process of the "general rating processing module 13", and includes: a linked communication charging setting module 11 is processed in each When the pen passes the MEDIATION DEVICE (MD) switch to record the call, according to the type of communication products requested by the customer, dynamically obtain the customer's billing and free traffic discount ratio value for each call record; The communication billing execution module 12 is responsible for confirming whether the customer's call record meets the linkable billing rules, and then according to the discount ratio setting value obtained by the linked communication billing setting module 11, Adjust the number of seconds for each call record.

The call record data processed by the "linked billing function module 10" is finally submitted to the general rating processing module 13 for the pricing operation, and the general rating rule and the rate table 16 are set to calculate the pen. The price of the customer's call record is discounted; otherwise, it is omitted.

The "Linked Billing Function Module 10" of the present invention can be quickly matched with the following two parameter tables to quickly set up the linked communication billing discounts of various tariffs and communication products:

1. Linked billing type table 14:

(a) Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a parameter list required for the processing of the linked communication charging setting module 11, including: a linked charging type representative number (this value is uniquely non-repeatable), a linked type meter Product code, linked billing service code, billable call volume (X value), free call volume (Y value), activation date and description.

(b) The parameter table can define the linkage communication billing preferential service of various tariff packages (setting the linked billing service code) and communication products (setting the linked billing product code), and determining the customer's call behavior "every X The minute-by-minute Y minute delivery mode.

(c) Through the setting of these parameters, the linked communication billing setting module 11 can find the corresponding "linked billing type representative number" according to the customer's applied tariff, special business or preferential product, that is, The type of linked billing discount that the customer complies with, in order to obtain the set value of "required billing amount" (X value) and "free call volume" (Y value) for calculation of the linked communication billing execution module .

2. Linked Billing Rules Table 15:

(a) Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a parameter list required for the processing of the linked communication charging execution module 12, including: serial number (this value is uniquely non-repeatable), linked charging type representative number, and call. Behavior, vocabulary code, call zone code, expense account category, activation date, and due date.

(b) This parameter list defines the various types of traffic combinations (setting call behavior) and communication area combinations (setting the calling area code and the receiving area code) allowed for each linked charging type.

(c) Through the setting of these parameters, the linked communication billing execution module 12 can be used to determine whether the type of the call behavior and the communication area combination in each call record of the customer meet the rules of the linkable billing, The setting module obtains the pricing rules of the linked type of refinement and re-adjusts the number of seconds that should be charged for each call record.

The above parameter setting is independent of the program, that is, if you want to add the linked communication billing discount to the new tariff or other communication products, you can quickly open the new service by setting it in the parameter list, no need to change the program, and reduce the modification system. The risks caused.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flowchart of a linked charging and pricing method for the communication service usage of the present invention, and integrates the entire batch pricing system after the linked communication charging method, and the rating steps are as follows: Step 1: Take the following information in the single customer call record, including the type of customer tariff, the special service or type of offer, the type of call behavior, the call area, the call area, etc., and convert it into a message format that can be processed by the program; Step 2: The information combination is a key value for stringing out the types of linked billing discounts that the customer meets; Step 3: confirming whether the customer's call behavior complies with the preferential rules of the linked billing; Step 4: according to the customer's original tariff Rate setting, according to the "no time period" or "segment time" type, the different single communication records are linked to the time-based billing process. The "time-schedule" rate setting is usually divided into general time and late night time. , or the price reduction period; Step 5: Then, according to the type of linked billing discounts that are met, re-adjust the number of seconds that each communication record should be charged; Step 6 Finally, the general price rules and rate table settings are used to calculate the discounted price of the customer's call record; Step 7: End the data rating process and proceed to the next paragraph.

The process of the linked communication charging setting module 11 includes steps 1 to 2, and the process of the linked communication charging execution module 12 includes steps 3 to 5, and the sixth step belongs to the process of the general rating processing module 13. The linked communication charging mechanism of the present invention is completely independent from the general rating process, that is, the integrated pricing process has no dependency on the customer call rating of the customer who has not applied for the linked communication charging preferential service.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the charter's tariff rate is set to "no time period", the linked communication billing execution module 12 processes the single communication record across time periods. The description is as follows:

1. The total number of minutes of a single communication record (t) divided by (x + y), the quotient is a, and the remainder is b;

2. According to the range of b, there are two types: "b<x" and "(x+y)>b>=x".

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which illustrates the “b<x” type of linked billing processing when the customer's tariff rate is set to “no time period”.

Please refer to FIG. 7 to illustrate the linked charge processing of the type "(x+y)>b>=x" when the customer's tariff rate is set to "no time period".

Referring to FIG. 8, when the customer's tariff rate is set to "time-slot", the linked communication billing execution module 12 processes the single communication record across time periods. The description is as follows:

1. If the total number of minutes of the call is in the same time period, the processing method is the same as "no time period";

2. If the total number of minutes of the call spans different time periods, the points of different time periods will be cut out first, and the processing mode of each sub-period is the same as “no time period”.

3. If the customer's tariff rate is divided into two time periods, the total number of minutes (t) of a single communication record is divided into two, divided into time period one (t1) and time period two (t2), and t1 is divided by (x). +y), the quotient is a1, and the remainder is b1;

4. According to the range of values of b1 (the time period remaining from one period to the second period), there are three types: "b1=0", "(x+y)>b1>=x", and "b1" <x』.

Please refer to FIG. 9 , which illustrates the "b1=0" type of linked billing processing when the customer's tariff rate is set to "time division".

Referring to FIG. 10, the legendary charging processing of the type "(x+y)>b1>=x" is illustrated when the customer's tariff rate is set to "time division".

Please refer to FIG. 11 to illustrate the linked billing processing of the type "b1<x" when the customer's tariff rate is set to "time division".

The linked billing and pricing system and method for communication service usage provided by the present invention have the following advantages when compared with the aforementioned citations and other conventional technologies:

1. The information required for the module of the present invention is fully parameterized, which greatly reduces the cost of education and training required by the maintenance personnel.

2. The invention can quickly provide various tariffs (such as 3G general tariff, 3G everyone, etc.) and communication products (such as F2 hotline, my hotline...) by setting parameters completely independent of the program. And so on) the linked communication billing preferential service, further through the changes and combinations, resulting in a more sophisticated new service plan.

3. The linked communication charging mechanism of the present invention is independent and unrelated to the general rating process, and also represents all the functions of strengthening the rating requirement, and is also independent of the linked communication charging mechanism, and reserves more for the rating system. Large elastic space to adapt to future changes in ability.

4. The linked communication billing of the present invention is fully automated according to parameter setting, including automatic confirmation of the type of linked billing offer, automatic judgment of the call behavior of the linked billing offer, and automatic discount adjustment for each communication record. The number, in turn, determines the rating rules, resulting in preferential prices for communication fees.

5. The present invention can reduce the risk of bed bugs and reduce the burden of testing by not modifying the original code in response to new services, so that the rating system can easily face the increasingly complicated business changes through setting, thereby greatly increasing Timeliness of the launch of new services.

The detailed description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The patent scope of this case.

To sum up, this case is not only innovative in terms of technical thinking, but also has many of the above-mentioned functions that are not in the traditional methods of the past. It has fully complied with the statutory invention patent requirements of novelty and progressiveness, and applied for it according to law. Approved this invention patent application, in order to invent invention, to the sense of virtue.

10. . . Linked billing function module

11. . . Linked communication billing setting module

12. . . Linked communication billing execution module

13. . . General price processing module

14. . . Linked billing type list

15. . . Linked billing rules table

16. . . Rate table

Please refer to the detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, and the technical contents of the present invention and its effects can be further understood; the related drawings are:

1 is a main flow chart of a batch operation, which includes a module architecture diagram of a linked billing and pricing system for using the communication service of the present invention;

2 is a flow chart of a method for the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

FIG. 3 is a “linked charging type list” required for the execution of the linked communication charging setting module of the linked charging and pricing system of the communication service usage;

4 is a "linked charging rule table" required for the execution of the linked communication charging execution module of the linked charging and pricing system of the communication service usage;

FIG. 5 is a description table of the linked billing processing of the rate “without time period” of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a schematic diagram of a linked billing process for a rate “without time period” of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

7 is a second schematic diagram of a linked billing processing example of a rate "no time period" of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

8 is a description table of a linked billing processing for a rate "time-slot" of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a linked billing processing method of a rate “time-slot” rate of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

10 is a second schematic diagram of a linked billing processing example of a rate "time-slot" rate of the linked billing and pricing system of the communication service usage;

FIG. 11 is a third schematic diagram of a linked billing processing example of a rate “time-slot” rate of the linked billing and pricing system for the communication service usage.

10. . . Linked billing function module

11. . . Linked communication billing setting module

12. . . Linked communication billing execution module

13. . . General price processing module

14. . . Linked billing type list

15. . . Linked billing rules table

16. . . Rate table

Claims (8)

A linked charging and billing system for communication service usage has a batch operation process, and the system includes at least: a MEDIATION DEVICE (MD) switch interface data processing for processing a call record, and the call is Recording the linked billing function module transmitted to the inside of the batch processing; a linked billing function module, internally connected with the linked communication billing setting module and the linked communication billing execution module Processing and receiving the call record, and preferentially adjusting the number of seconds that each communication record should be charged, and then transmitting to the general rating processing module, thereby determining the rating rule, generating a preferential price for the communication fee; a linked communication charging setting mode The group is to process the record of each call, and according to the type of communication products applied by the customer, dynamically obtain the customer's billing and free communication on each call record through the data in the linked billing type list. The quantity discount ratio value is transmitted to the linked communication billing execution module for calculation; a linked billing type list is used to define the communication to be joined to the linked billing Product data, providing the linked communication billing setting module for each linked billing type of billing traffic and free traffic ratio parameter values; a linked communication billing execution module is connected by The data in the linked billing rules table confirms whether the customer's record of each call meets the linkable billing rules, and then according to the discount ratio setting value obtained by the linked communication billing setting module, the re-adjustment of each call record should be charged. The number of seconds is finally transmitted to the pricing component processing of the general rating processing module; a linked charging rules table is used to define a combination of traffic combinations and communication areas allowed for each linked charging, and the linkage communication is provided. The billing execution module judges the use; a general rating processing module is for the linked communication billing execution module to process the call record, and the rate table is interfaced, and the bill is charged according to the data in the rate table. , generating a communication fee preferential price; and a rate table for defining rate information of various communication products, and providing the pricing component of the general rating processing module to calculate the communication fee usage. For example, the linked charging and charging system for the communication service usage described in the first paragraph of the patent application, wherein the linked charging type table further includes a linked charging type representative number, a linked charging product code, Linked billing service code, billable call volume, free call volume and activation date. For example, the linked-type charging and pricing system for the communication service usage mentioned in the first paragraph of the patent application, wherein the linked charging type table can set the "linked charging service code" parameter to join the tariff type, and set The "Linked Billing Product Code" parameter is added to the communication product category, and the "Budget Call Volume" and "Free Call Volume" are set to determine the ratio of the linked communication billing discount. The linked billing and pricing system for communication service usage as described in claim 1, wherein the linked billing rules table further includes a linked billing type representative number, a call behavior, a calling area, and a call. Regional, expense account category, activation date, and due date. For example, the linked billing and pricing system for communication service usage described in claim 1 wherein the linked billing rules table can set a "call behavior" parameter to define each of the linked billing offers. For each type of traffic combination, set the "Speaking Area Code" and "Received Area Code" parameters to determine the communication area combination. For example, the linked-type charging and pricing system for the communication service usage described in the first paragraph of the patent application, wherein the linked communication charging execution module and the linked communication charging setting module are independently processed in the general price. Execution outside the module does not affect the general rating process, and has no interdependence. A linked charging and billing method for communication service usage, the steps of which at least include: (a) the type of customer tariff, the special service or the type of the subscription for the single-pass customer call record of the linked charging function module , the type of call behavior, the call area, the call area, etc., and converted into a message format that the program can process; (b) the linked communication billing setting module combines the information into a key value, by the linked billing type The table serializes the type of linked billing offer that the customer complies with; (c) the linked communication billing execution module determines and confirms whether the customer's call behavior conforms to the combinable type by using the linked billing rules table The billing rules; (d) The linked communication billing execution module is configured according to the customer's original tariff rate as "no time period" or "time period", and different single communication cross-time linkages are performed. Billing processing; (e) the linked communication billing execution module re-adjusts the number of seconds that each communication record should be charged according to the type of linked billing offer; (f) the general rating processing module is internally Set General rating rules and set the rate table to calculate the sum of the customer call records of rates; (g) the sum of the rating process data is transmitted to the rating call detail data storage and application of information. For example, the method of linking the usage of communication services as described in item 7 of the scope of patent application, in which the processing of "time-sharing" is to cut out points at different time points, and each sub-period is followed by "no time period". The linked billing processing method is used to calculate the discount.