JP2002204319A - Communications service system, communications terminal, and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communications service system that prevents unexpected large amount of charges on a user due to the excessed use of a cellular phone, troubles in collecting those charges, and also such as loss as found in the prepaid card system. SOLUTION: In this system, a user 1 who opens a bank account 9 to be directly charged by for the cellular phone use makes an arbitrary setting or change of ht limit in amount per month within the balance. A communications provider 3 checks that the set limit is less than the balance at the beginning of a month before providing the communications service of the month. It continues to check it while providing the service as far as the accumulated charges of the month does not exceed the limit and charges the accumulated bill to the account 9 at the end of the month. If the accumulated charges reach the limit, the available communications service is limited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication service system, a communication terminal, and a program for paying a communication carrier a usage fee according to the use of a communication terminal such as a portable telephone.

[0002]

In recent years, communication service systems such as mobile phones (mobile phones) have become widespread, and the number of subscribers (users) has been increasing. In general, in such a communication service system, a fee is charged according to a call (communication) time of a mobile phone and the like, and a subscriber (user) is charged.
Has adopted a method in which the usage fee for the previous month is paid to the telecommunications carrier in the following month, for example, by debiting the account of a financial institution such as a bank. However, in such a system in which the usage fee is settled in the next month, the user often overuses the system, and may have to pay an unexpectedly high usage fee. There is a possibility that troubles such as the above may occur.

On the other hand, as another settlement system, a service using a prepaid card has been provided. In this prepaid card system, the user pays 1,000 yen, 3000 yen.
By pre-purchasing a prepaid card such as a yen, it is possible to use the card within that amount. According to this, since the user pays the usage fee in advance, so to speak, there is no fear that the user will overuse the usage fee, and there is no possibility that the communication carrier cannot collect the fee.

However, in this prepaid card system, a user must go to a store to purchase a prepaid card and perform a registration operation for each card, which is troublesome for the user. The expiration date (for example, 30 days) is determined for each prepaid card, so if the usage time is short, the expiration date cannot be used despite the remaining amount of money. It may be a loss for the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a user from unexpectedly using a high usage fee due to excessive use or causing a trouble in collecting the usage fee. Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication service system, a communication terminal, and a program which can be prevented from being lost and which do not cause a loss like a prepaid card system.

[0006]

According to the communication service system of the present invention, a user of a communication terminal sets up an account for debiting a usage fee of the communication terminal at a financial institution, and communicates with the communication company by The usage limit within the unit usage period is set within the balance of the account, and the telecommunications carrier checks the usage limit set via the network with the financial institution, and the usage limit is set within the unit usage period. According to the present invention, a communication service is provided to a corresponding communication terminal within a forehead (the invention of claim 1).

[0007] According to this, the user can set a usage limit within the unit usage period and receive a communication service within the usage limit. Is prevented. Further, since the usage limit is set within the balance of the account, there is no possibility that the fee will be unpaid. Moreover, there is no trouble as in the prepaid card system, and there is no loss due to overpayment for the user.

[0008] In this case, after the usage fee reaches the usage limit during the unit usage period, only some communication services that are not charged in the remaining period may be provided. . According to this, even if the set usage limit is exhausted, the communication terminal is not disabled at all, and the minimum service for the user can be secured.

[0009] When the usage fee approaches the usage limit, the communication carrier may notify the communication terminal of the fact (claim 3). According to this, the user is reminded that the usage fee is approaching the usage limit, so the user can refrain from using the communication terminal,
Alternatively, measures such as changing the setting of the usage limit can be easily performed, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0010] By the way, for example, when a family subscribes to a communication service, the usage fee of a plurality of communication terminals is deducted from one account. A specific one of the plurality of communication terminals may be used to set a usage limit for each communication terminal (the invention of claim 4). According to the representative subscriber's communication terminal,
It is possible to set a usage limit for each of a plurality of communication terminals, and to prevent overuse of the plurality of communication terminals, which is suitable for, for example, a case where a parent has a communication terminal with a child. Become.

In the communication terminal according to the fifth aspect, the same operation and effect as those of the first aspect can be obtained. Also,
The program according to the sixth aspect has the same effect as the first aspect. The program according to the seventh aspect has the same effect as that of the fourth aspect.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a communication service system in a portable telephone (mobile telephone) will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment (corresponding to claims 1, 2, 5, and 6) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system configuration according to the present embodiment. Here, the user 1 subscribing to the system (FIG. 1)
) Each have a mobile phone 2 as a communication terminal according to the present embodiment.

Although not shown in detail, the portable telephone 2
As is well known, the portable body is provided with a key operation unit having dial keys and function keys, a display unit for displaying telephone numbers and various messages, a microphone, a speaker, an antenna, etc. It contains a control circuit mainly composed of a microcomputer, an electric circuit such as a memory and a transmitting / receiving circuit, and a battery serving as a power supply. Note that each mobile phone 2 is assigned a unique ID code. The memory stores programs executed by the control circuit and various data.

The telecommunications carrier 3 (see FIG. 1) has a plurality of base stations 4 (only one is shown) provided for each zone and a network system 5 connected thereto. . The network system 5 includes a center including a host computer that performs processing related to the business of the communication carrier 3.

The network system 5 is connected to a financial online system 6 of a financial institution such as a bank or a shinkin bank, and is connected to the Internet 7 or another communication network (such as a public line network or another business operator). Network 8). As a result, the communication carrier 3 provides the user 1 with various communication services such as a call between the mobile phones 2, data communication, and information services via the Internet 7.

For example, taking a telephone call as an example, the communication company 3
Responds to a call request from the caller's mobile phone 2, calls the other party's (received) mobile phone 2 and connects the line,
Services such as line connection and the like are provided in which a call is monitored and the line is disconnected after the call is terminated. Further, at this time, a usage fee corresponding to the call time, the amount of communication data, and the like charged to the transmission source is calculated and stored. As will be described later, the user 1 pays a usage fee according to the used communication service by debiting the account 9 (see FIG. 1).

As will be described later in the description of the operation, in the communication service system according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. An account 9 for debit is opened (designated) at a financial institution, and the account 9 is charged with an amount to be used for payment of a usage fee. Then, the user 1 communicates with the center of the communication carrier 3 by using the mobile phone 2.
Unit usage period In this case, 1 from the beginning of the month (1st) to the end of the month
The monthly limit is set arbitrarily.
In this case, the setting of the usage limit can be freely changed, and the setting and changing of the usage limit can be made within the balance in the account 9.

Thus, the portable telephone 2 notifies the communication carrier 3 of the setting means for setting the usage limit within the unit usage period and the set usage limit for confirmation at the financial institution. It has a function as a notifying means for performing.
These functions are realized by the control circuit of the mobile phone 2 executing the program according to the present embodiment. The specific processing operation will be described later in the operation description (see FIG. 3). (Processing operation on the left side of the broken line).

The setting and changing of the above-mentioned credit limit are as follows.
The connection is made by making a call to a predetermined simple (for example, four-digit) dial number and connecting to the center. The communication fee for setting and changing (and checking the balance) is free.
In addition, it is desirable that the above-mentioned account 9 is an account dedicated to transfer (withdrawal is impossible), so that the set use limit is secured in the account 9.

On the other hand, at the beginning of each month, the telecommunications carrier 3 checks through the financial online system 5 whether the set usage limit is within the balance of the account 9 and starts the communication service for that month. Then, for example, for each call of the mobile phone 2 (or every day, every week, etc.), the accumulated usage fee from the first day of the month is calculated, it is checked whether it is within the usage limit, and the service is provided within the usage limit. To continue. At the end of the month, the cumulative usage fee for the month is deducted from the account 9.

At this time, when the accumulated usage fee reaches the usage limit, the communication carrier 3 limits the communication services that can be provided from that time until the end of the month. Specifically, after the accumulated usage fee has reached the usage limit, normal outgoing calls are made impossible, incoming calls and outgoing calls without charges (emergency calls such as "110" and "119", and calls to the above-mentioned center) Some communication services that are not charged, such as (communications), are still usable.

Further, when the accumulated usage fee reaches the usage limit in the middle of the month, the communication carrier 3 informs the user 1 to that effect.
Is notified by a mail service or the like for the portable telephone 2. The user 1 can change the usage limit in response to the notification. If a new month is reached with the balance of the account 9 set to 0, but there is no transfer to the account 9, a limited grace period (for example, three months) is limited. Provided communication service. If there is no transfer after the grace period, the contract will be canceled.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing related to the use of the mobile phone 2 on the user 1 side (left side from the broken line) and the flow of processing related to the communication service in the communication carrier 3 (center) (right side from the broken line). And the communication between them. First, the user 1 makes a subscription application, obtains the mobile phone 2, opens an account 9 for withdrawal of the fee, and designates an amount to be a monthly usage limit (step S1). Then, the telecommunications carrier 3 checks the balance in the account 9 at the beginning of each month (at the start of use for the first subscription) (step T1), and determines whether there is a balance exceeding the set usage limit. (Step T2).

If there is a balance exceeding the usage limit (Yes in step T2), the designated amount is set as the usage limit as it is (step T3), and normal communication service provision is started (step T4). . On the other hand, if the balance in the account 9 is less than the specified usage limit (No in step T2), it is determined whether the balance is 0 (step T5). No), providing the normal communication service after setting the balance as the usage limit (step T6) (step T4). If the balance is 0 (Yes in step T5), the service is limited as described later (step T14).

In this way, the user 1 can receive the normal communication service during the unit use period (one month) (step S2). User 1
Can change the usage limit arbitrarily by operating the mobile phone 2 during this usage period (step S
3) If the user wants to change (Yes), the operation is performed (step S4). Then, the fact is notified to the communication carrier 3 side.

The telecommunications carrier 3 determines whether or not the amount after the change is equal to or more than the cumulative usage amount described later (step T7). The processing from step T2 is repeated as follows. On the other hand, if the changed amount is less than the accumulated usage amount (No in step T7), the corresponding mobile phone 2 is notified that the change cannot be made (step T8). The change-impossible display is displayed on the mobile phone 2 that has received the change-impossible notification (step S).
5).

When the user uses the mobile phone 2 without changing the usage limit (No in step S3), the communication carrier 3 uses, for example, the mobile phone 2 (charging is not required). Each time (occurs) occurs (or daily or weekly), the usage fee is confirmed and accumulated as the cumulative usage fee for the month (step T9), and it is determined whether the accumulated usage fee is within the usage limit (step T1).
0). If it is within the usage limit (step T1
Until the end of the month (No in step T11), the provision of the normal communication service is continued (step T4). When the end of the month is reached with the accumulated usage fee remaining within the usage limit (step T11), the amount of the accumulated usage fee is debited from the account 9 (step T12).
In the next month, the process from step T1 is repeated.

On the other hand, if the accumulated usage fee reaches the usage limit in the middle of the month (No in step T10), the mobile phone 2 (user 1) is notified of the balance shortage (step S10). T13). User 1 who received notification of insufficient balance
If the user wants to continue receiving the normal service for the remaining period of the month, the user can change the usage limit (step S6). If the user wants to change the usage limit (Yes in step S6), the user performs the operation (step S7), which is notified to the telecommunications carrier 3 and the processing from step T7 is performed. .

If the user 1 does not change the usage limit (No in step S6), the communication carrier 3 limits the service (step T14). This service restriction makes normal outgoing calls impossible, incoming calls and outgoing calls without charges (emergency calls such as "110" and "119",
Only some communication services such as the above-mentioned communication to the center) are provided. The user 1 can receive only such a limited service for the remaining period of the month (step S8). In the following month, as long as there is a balance in the account 9, normal service can be received again.

Even at the beginning of the month, the balance of the account 9 is zero.
In the case of, the limited service can be received only within the expiration date (for example, three months) (step S9), and transfer (payment) to the account 9 over three months. If there is no (No in Step S9), the communication carrier 3 terminates the service (Step T15) and notifies the mobile phone 2 of the user 1 of the cancellation (Step T16). The mobile phone 2 of the user 1 is notified by a display or the like of the cancellation (step S10).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user 1
Can set a usage limit for one month and receive communication services within the usage limit, so if an unexpectedly high usage fee is not paid due to excessive use, On the other hand, it is possible for the communication carrier 3 to prevent the occurrence of troubles that the payment limit is set within the balance of the account 9 and cannot be collected due to payment failure.

In addition, unlike the conventional prepaid card system, the user 1 does not have to purchase a card or perform a troublesome registration operation, and can set and change the usage limit by a simple operation of the mobile phone 2. It is also possible to prevent the user 1 from suffering a loss due to overpayment. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in particular, even if the usage limit set by the user 1 is exhausted, the mobile phone 2 will not be disabled at all and a limited service can be received. The service can be secured.

(2) Second and Third Embodiment FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
). The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is as follows. That is, in the second embodiment, for example, a plurality of mobile phones 2 are used (subscribed) by a family, and their usage fee is reduced to a representative subscriber (for example, father).
This is an example of a case where a discount service (a service that is currently called “family pack”) in which a debit is made from one account 9 is possible.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, among a plurality of portable telephones 2 (denoted as “terminal 1” to “terminal N”), a specific one (“terminal 1”) becomes a main line, and (“Terminal 2” to “Terminal N”) are sub-lines, of which the mobile phone 2 of the main line (“Terminal 1”) is a superuser, and sets and changes the usage limit for each mobile phone 2 respectively. It is configured to be able to.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the user 1 of the “terminal 1” sets the usage limit of each of the mobile phones 2 (“terminal 1” to “terminal N”), In the account 9, the usage limit of each mobile phone 2 is secured. As a result, of a plurality of mobile phones 2 set to pay a usage fee from one account 9, a specific one (main line, that is, “terminal 1”) of mobile phones 2 is connected to a plurality of communication terminals. 2 as setting means for setting a usage limit within a unit usage period for each unit 2 and as notifying means for notifying the telecommunications carrier 3 of each set usage limit for confirmation at a financial institution. Is realized by the control circuit of the mobile phone 2 executing the program according to the present embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, the communication carrier 3 provides a normal communication service within the respective usage limit set for each portable telephone 2, and For example, the usage fee of each mobile phone 2 is deducted from the account 9 at the end of the month.

According to this, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent an unexpectedly high usage fee due to excessive use of the mobile phone 2 by each user 1. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a trouble in collecting the usage fee. In addition, since the representative subscriber (the user 1 of the “terminal 1”) can set the usage limit for each of the plurality of mobile phones 2, for example, the parent holds the mobile phone 2 as a child. In such a case, the child can use the mobile phone 2 within the management of the parent, which is preferable.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, in which the representative subscriber (user 1 of “terminal 1”) has two or more (in this case, two) accounts 10, 11 (which may be the same financial institution or different financial institution), the charges for the use of a plurality of mobile phones 2 can be deducted to the accounts 10 and 11. is there. With such a configuration, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained. In addition to this, for example, by dividing the accounts 10 and 11 for the parent and the child, the user 1 An advantage that management of balances of 10 and 11 becomes easy can be obtained.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-described first embodiment, when the cumulative usage fee reaches the usage limit, the user 1 is notified of the balance shortage. When the fee approaches the usage limit (for example, when it becomes 90% or more), the communication carrier 3 may notify the user 1 of the fact (corresponding to claim 3). ). In this case, the notification is not limited to the mail service, but may be voice guidance, mailing of documents, or a combination thereof.

According to this, the user 1 is alerted to the fact that the accumulated usage fee has approached the usage limit, so that the user 1
However, measures such as refraining from using the mobile phone 2 or changing the setting of the usage limit can be easily performed in advance, and the convenience for the user 1 can be improved. At this time, in addition to notifying the cumulative usage fee or the remaining available fee for the month, the set usage limit itself, the balance in the account 9, and the like can also be notified.

Further, the data of the set usage limit and the accumulated usage fee (or remaining available fee) are always stored in the memory of the mobile phone 2, and the data are stored by the user 1 key operation. Can also be displayed. In this case, in addition to the display of the amount itself, various display forms such as displaying the ratio of the accumulated usage fee to the usage limit amount by an indicator can be used. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for notifying them by voice.

Further, in the above embodiment, the usage fee is deducted collectively every month.
A charge may be deducted for each use. Further, in addition to the communication (call) fee, for example, a monthly basic usage fee may be charged. As a unit usage period,
The time is not limited to one month, but may be longer (for example, three months or six months) or shorter (for example, ten days or one week). Various changes can also be made to the date of setting the usage limit and the date of deduction of the usage fee.

The processing operation of the mobile phone 2 in each of the above-described embodiments is such that the program according to the present invention is downloaded to the mobile phone 2 through a wireless line (network) or installed in the mobile phone 2 from a storage medium. Of course, this can be achieved. For example, this program may be configured to execute the processing operation on the left side of the broken line in FIG.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to the portable telephone 2 but also to a PHS terminal, a car telephone, and a general telephone as a communication terminal. Further, the present invention can be applied to a communication service system in a computer network or the like, and after the accumulated usage fee reaches the usage limit, the service is not restricted but the service for the remaining period is used. May be stopped, for example, may be stopped, and may be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a user,
Diagram showing the relationship between telecommunications carriers and financial institution accounts

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing regarding services and charges on the user side and the communication carrier side;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between a plurality of mobile phones.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a user, 2 is a mobile phone (communication terminal),
Reference numeral 3 denotes a communication carrier, and 9, 10, and 11 indicate accounts.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 332 G06F 17/60 332 H04M 3/42 H04M 3/42 EF term (Reference) 5K024 AA64 BB04 BB07 CC01 CC11 DD02 GG01 5K025 AA08 BB10 CC02 DD05 EE02 EE03 EE14 EE16 EE23 FF14 FF15 FF22 FF27 FF34 FF40 GG05 GG16 GG24 JJ02 JJ14 JJ18 KK07

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A telecommunications carrier provides a communication service relating to the use of a communication terminal to a user of the communication terminal, and the user communicates a usage fee according to the use of the communication terminal. In a communication service system for paying a business operator, the user sets up an account for debiting the usage fee at a financial institution, and communicates with the communication business operator to reduce the usage limit within a unit usage period to the balance of the account. The telecommunications carrier confirms the set usage limit through a network with the financial institution, and within a unit usage period, provides a communication service for the communication terminal within the usage limit. A communication service system characterized by providing: 2. The communication carrier according to claim 1, wherein after the usage fee reaches the usage limit during the unit usage period, only a part of the communication service not charged in the remaining period is provided. Item 2. The communication service system according to Item 1. 3. The communication service system according to claim 1, wherein the communication carrier notifies the communication terminal device when the usage fee approaches the usage limit. . 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a usage fee of a plurality of communication terminals can be deducted from one account. The communication service system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a usage limit is set for each terminal. 5. A communication terminal contracted to pay a usage fee to a communication carrier from an account for withdrawal of a financial institution, comprising: a setting means for setting a usage limit within a unit usage period; A communication terminal, comprising: notification means for notifying the communication carrier of the usage limit set by the setting means for confirmation at the financial institution. 6. A setting means for setting a usage limit within a unit usage period for a communication terminal contracted to pay a usage fee to a communication carrier from a bank account for debit of a financial institution; A program for causing the communication carrier to function as a notification unit for notifying the communication carrier for confirmation at the financial institution. 7. A plurality of communication terminals, among a plurality of communication terminals contracted to pay a usage fee to a communication carrier from one withdrawal account, only a specific one of the plurality of communication terminals Setting means for setting a usage limit within a unit usage period for each, and notification means for notifying the communication carrier of the usage limit set by the setting means to the telecommunications carrier for confirmation at the financial institution. A program characterized by functioning as a program.