JP3331843B2 - Billing control system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging control system for a communication network in which a caller's telephone number is notified to a destination. In recent years, the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) has also adopted an electronic exchange system to provide various services to customers.

For example, an increasing number of companies provide a call charge payment service in which the call charge is not charged to the customer as part of the care and service to the customer. This call charge arrives
The follower payment service (commonly called the terminating billing service) is old
Is used as a public network telephone service from
General for extension telephones with PBX (Private Branch Exchange)
Widely used like subscriber telephones. Also companies
In order to increase the efficiency of telephone business, companies are increasing the number of businesses, rather than performing each business in each department, or setting up a free-dial call center that performs a plurality of businesses on the same call.

[0003] In such an environment, conventional, can not be aggregated charge for each business content at the destination, or, in the case of the operation mode, such as the call center, split billing the call charges for each of a plurality of business content ( Different services for the same phone number
Business breakdown as a breakdown of incoming billing for calls with mixed content
It is not possible to be) examine the call charges divided, non-efficiency that can not be business analysis of the communication cost and performance, etc. of each business content has become a problem for each. Therefore, there is a need to provide a system for charging a destination or a source for each business content.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional call charge receiver payment (collect call) is based on the fact that if a caller is connected by a collect call as in an international call, the callee accepts the call charge call payment, and the caller is originally required to pay. a service bi scan to charge the fee to be charged by the called party, which is provided as charged service in a so-called PSTN.

[0005] In addition, the toll-free service, which has been increasing rapidly in recent years, receives a call to a number set for each destination of 0120-xxx-xxx, so that the receiving side can apply for mail order and the like. The service is provided, and the called party pays the call charge as a service.

However, by receiving an incoming call at a number set for each destination of 0990-xxx-xxx, like the dial Q ² (registered trademark) service, various information is provided from the receiving side. There is also a service that receives the call, but in this case, the caller pays the call charge. All of them are based on a charging service in a public network.

[0007]

Therefore, when the call charge receiver service is implemented, it is not possible to efficiently analyze the communication cost and performance for each service content at the called party.
There may be problems such as impeding the efficiency of telephone operations in a company, or when multiple operations are performed in a centralized manner rather than in each department, or when multiple operations are performed on the same call. In such a case, the call charges cannot be accurately divided for each business content, and similarly, there has been a problem that efficiency of telephone business in a company is hindered.

According to the present invention, there is provided a billing service capable of collecting and summing up billing for each business content at a called party who carries out a call charge receiver payment service in order to solve the above problems, and performing a plurality of businesses for each department. Instead of focusing,
Improve the efficiency of telephone operations in a company by providing a billing service that can accurately divide the call charges for each business content at the source or destination that performs multiple business activities on the same call. Aim.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an electronic exchange, 2 is a public network,
3 is an extension caller A, 4 is an extension caller C, 5 is a public caller B, 6 is a public callee D, 7 is a communication network, 8 is a central control device, 9 is a storage device, and 11 is a caller number. Receiving unit, 12 is a charging control unit, 13 is a business type registration receiving unit, 14 is a charging target business type receiving unit, 15 is an incoming call number corresponding business type registration table, 16 is a subscriber button corresponding business type registration table, and 17 is charging An index registration table, 18 is a billing information table corresponding to a telephone call, and 19 is a billing information table corresponding to a business type.

[0010] In the figure, the incoming call number corresponding service type registration table 15 in the storage device 9 is a table having an area for recording contents for managing the service type corresponding to the incoming number, and the subscriber button corresponding service type registration table 16 is provided. It is a table having an area for recording the content for managing the business type corresponding to the button number of the subscriber's telephone, and the charging index registration table 17 is an area for recording the content for managing the charging information for the area code and the local area code. The call information table 18 is a table having an area for recording the contents of managing the charge information corresponding to the call, and the service type corresponding charge information table 19 manages the charge information corresponding to the service type. This is a table having an area for recording contents.

A service type registration receiving unit 13 in the central control unit 8 receives a service type registration corresponding to the incoming call number and receives a service type registration corresponding to the subscriber's telephone button number. Yes, the chargeable business type receiving unit 14 receives a charging request from a calling subscriber and receives an input of a charging target business type from a calling subscriber. Is for receiving the number of the caller notified to the called party from the communication network. When the billing is required at the called party, the billing control unit 12 transmits the notified caller number and the measured call time. Calculates the call charge used from the telephone, performs the split charge of the call charge corresponding to the business type from the business type input from the incoming responder during the call, and the business type input from the caller during the call Split billing for call types according to business type Is performed.

By providing these, means for calculating and charging a call charge used for each service at a destination to which the call charge is charged, inputting a billing request from a subscriber during a call, and a service to be charged. A means for receiving the input of the type and a means for dividing and charging the call charge according to the business type can be provided.
Callees who provide the fee caller payment service, and do not perform multiple tasks for each department, but collectively perform them, and also work for companies that perform multiple tasks on the same call Business analysis such as communication cost and performance for each can be realized.

The accounting control system of the present invention can be classified into the following four systems. . In a communication network where the caller's number is notified to the called party, if the call number is paid separately for each business content, the caller's number and the call time will be used for each business. A method in which used call charges are calculated and charged at the called party for each business content. . In a communication network in which the caller's number is notified to the called party, if the caller requests the caller to pay the call charge, the caller is notified of the billing request and business type entered by the caller during the call. A method in which a call charge used for each service is calculated from the caller's number and the call time, and the callee is charged for each service content. . In a communication network in which the caller's number is notified to the destination, a plurality of business contents are carried out with the same called number or a plurality of business contents are carried out with the same call. If a call is made, the call rate used for each task is calculated from the service type entered by the incoming call respondent during the call, the notified caller's number and the call time, and the call rate is calculated by the callee at multiple destinations. A method that charges separately for each service. . When multiple business contents are carried out with the same called number or multiple business contents are carried out with the same call, it is used for each business based on the business type, caller number and call time entered by the caller during the call. Call charges are calculated and the caller charges the call charges separately for each of multiple business activities.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the system configuration diagram of the present invention. In the figure, the same numbers as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same device names. The incoming call number corresponding service type registration table 15 searches the service type by the incoming number, and the subscriber button corresponding service type registration table 16
Searches for the service type by the subscriber button number, and the charging index registration table 17 searches for charging information (charging index, charging unit price, charging type, etc.) by area / city code.

The service type corresponding charging table 19 retrieves charging information (call charge, number of calls, call time, etc.) from the service type and the charging type (outgoing or incoming), and the call corresponding charging information table 18 Call destination number by call identification number,
The next link is searched for a charging type, a charging unit price, a business type, a call time, etc., and a next link 20 is searched for a business type, a call time, etc. and a next link.

An embodiment of the processing flowchart of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a process of charging for each business content at a destination in the case where a call charge receiver payment service is implemented by dividing a called number for each business content, and FIG. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show an example of a process of charging for each business content at the destination when there is a request for payment of a callee to a callee. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show an embodiment of a process of separately charging for each of a plurality of business contents at a destination when a call charge receiver payment service is implemented for the same call. An embodiment of a process of performing split charging for each of a plurality of business contents at the transmission source when the same number or a plurality of business contents are performed by the same call will be described.

In order to charge for each service content shown in FIG. 3, (1) a service type is registered in advance by a command from the maintenance console in correspondence with the incoming number, and (2) the incoming telephone number in the service number registration table corresponding to the incoming number. The service type is recorded in the area corresponding to the number. (3) Caller B makes a toll-free call, and Callee A answers. (4) Accept the caller's number notified from the communication network to the called party, (5) Extract the area code and local number from the notified caller's number, and (6) Extract the charging information corresponding to the outside / local number, (7) extract the service type corresponding to the called telephone number in the called number corresponding service type registration table, and (8) call the corresponding call information in the call corresponding charging information table. , The number of the called party, the charging type: 1 (prepaid to the receiver of the charge), the charging unit price, and the business type are recorded. (9) Measure the talk time. (10) At the end of the call, calculate the used call charge from the charging unit price and the measured call time, and (11) count up the number of calls to the area corresponding to the charging type of the business type in the business type corresponding charging table. Then, the call charge and the call time are added to the call charge and the call time, respectively.

When the caller in FIG. 4 requests the receiver of the call charge, (1) a service type is registered in advance by a command from the maintenance console in correspondence with the button number of the telephone set of the subscriber, and (2) ) The service type is recorded in the area corresponding to the button number corresponding to the subscriber in the service type registration table corresponding to the subscriber button. (3) The called party A answers the collect call from the calling party B. (4) Caller A presses the billing request button during a call, (5) Accepts a "charging request" from caller A during a call, and (6) Caller notified to the called party from the communication network (7) Extract the area / city code from the notified caller's number, (8) extract the charging information corresponding to the area / city code in the charging index registration table, 9) The incoming caller A further presses the business type button to be charged during the call, and (10) the incoming caller A during the call receives the "business type to be charged"
(11) The number of the callee, the charging type: 1 (payment by the receiver of the charge), the charging unit price, and the business type are recorded in the area corresponding to the charging type corresponding to the service type in the charging information table corresponding to the call. (12) Measure the talk time. (13) At the end of the call, the used call charge is calculated from the charging unit price and the measured call time. (14) The number of calls is counted up in an area corresponding to the charge type of the service type in the service type corresponding charge table, and the call charge and the call time are added to the call charge and the call time, respectively.

The plurality of business contents shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are divided into the same incoming call number or the plurality of business contents by the same call in the destination where the caller receiver service is implemented, for each business content. (1) Register the service type corresponding to the button number of the subscriber's telephone by a command from the maintenance console in advance, and (2) the button number corresponding to the subscriber in the subscriber button corresponding service type registration table. Record the business type in the corresponding area. (3) Caller B sends a toll-free number, and Callee A answers. (4) Accept the caller's number notified from the communication network to the called party, (5) Extract the area code and local number from the notified caller's number, and (6) The billing information of the outside / local number is extracted. (7) The incoming call responder A presses the billing target business type button during a call. (8) During the call, the answering party A sends the “business type to be charged”
(9) In the area corresponding to the telephone call identification number in the telephone call correspondence charging information table, the number of the telephone call, the charging type: 1 (payee payment by payee), the charging unit price, and the business type are recorded. (10) Measure the talk time. (11) Check whether it is necessary to switch the business contents during the call, (12) If necessary, the incoming call respondent A presses the business type button to be charged during the call, (13) During the call Incoming caller A to "business type to be charged"
(14) Stop measuring the call time for the previous service type, (15) Capture the next link from the area corresponding to the call ID number in the call corresponding charging information table, and record the service type. (16) Measure the talk time and return to the check in (11). (17) In the check of the above (11), if switching is not necessary, at the end of the call, the used call fee is calculated from the billing unit price and the measured call time, and (18) the service type corresponding The number of calls is counted up in the area corresponding to the billing type of the business, and the call charge and the talk time are added to the call charge and the talk time, respectively. The next link is extracted correspondingly. (20) It is checked whether the next link exists. If so, the process returns to step (17). If the next link does not exist, the process ends.

When it is desired to charge a plurality of business contents shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by dividing the plurality of business contents by the same number or by the source which carries out the plurality of business contents by the same call, (1) In advance, the service type is registered in the service console as a command corresponding to the button number of the subscriber's telephone, and (2) the service type is recorded in the area corresponding to the button number corresponding to the subscriber in the subscriber button corresponding service type registration table. I do. (3) Caller C makes a call and callee D answers. (4) Extract the toll / city number from the number sent, (5) extract the billing information corresponding to the toll / city number in the charging index registration table, and (6) caller C Press the business type button to be charged. (7) During call, "calling business type" is accepted from caller C. (8) Call destination number, charging type: 0 (calling) in the area corresponding to the call identification number in the call information table. Accounting), accounting unit price, and business type. (9) Measure the talk time. (10) Check whether it is necessary to switch the business content during the call, (11) If necessary, caller C presses the business type button to be charged during the call, (12) Caller during the call C receives the "business type to be charged", (13) stops measuring the call time for the previous business type, and (14) links the next link of the area corresponding to the call identification number in the call corresponding charge information table. Capture and record the business type. (15) Measure the talk time, and return to the check in (10). (16) In the check of the above (10), if switching is not necessary, at the end of the call, the used call fee is calculated from the charging unit price and the measured call time, and The number of calls is counted up in the area corresponding to the billing type of the business, and the call charge and the call time are added to the call charge and the call time respectively. (18) The call call identification number in the call call corresponding billing information table The next link is extracted correspondingly. (19) It is checked whether the next link exists. If so, the process returns to the step (16). If the next link does not exist, the process ends.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show an embodiment of a connection configuration sequence diagram according to the present invention. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a process of charging for each business content at a destination in a case where a call charge receiver payment service is implemented by dividing a called number for each business content, and FIG. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a process of charging for each business content at the destination when there is a caller payment request for the call charge, and FIG. FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a process in which a plurality of business contents are divided and billed for each of a plurality of business contents at a destination in a case where a call charge receiver payment service is implemented in a call, and FIG. An example of a process of separately charging for each of a plurality of business contents at a transmission source when the business contents are performed by the same call will be described.

In the figure, 21 is a corporate system, 22 is NT
T public network, 23 is NTT billing department, 24 is a public subscriber, 25 is P
BX, 26 is an extension subscriber, 27 is a business content definition unit, 28 is PB
An X charging unit 29 indicates a multifunctional telephone button unit. Public subscribers24
Is called party B and called party D, and extension subscriber 26 is called party A,
Caller C.

The NTT charging unit 23 indicates a call charge charged by NTT for each company, the PBX charging unit 28 indicates a call charge charged for each business by PBX, and the business content definition unit 27 preliminarily sets the business type corresponding to the called number. And a storage unit for defining business contents, and a multi-function telephone button unit 29 indicates a button and a display unit of an extension subscriber's multi-function telephone (MLDT).

When it is desired to charge for each business content at the destination shown in FIG. 9, the business content corresponding to the toll free number is specified in advance in the business content definition part of the PBX. When the public caller B dials the toll-free number 0120-XXX-XXX2, the incoming call is answered to the extension callee A, the caller's number is identified, the caller's number is identified, the call time is PBX-based from the call time, and the business-specific call charge (product 1) Will be charged. At this time, the NTT billing unit is charged a company-specific call fee, but not a business-specific call fee.

In the case where the caller shown in FIG. 10 has made a request for payment of the call charge to the receiver, the business contents corresponding to the button number of the subscriber A are specified in advance in the business content definition section of the PBX. Public caller B collects call 044-XXX-XXX2
When extension is called, the extension called party A responds to the incoming call and accepts the collect call, and when the billing request button and the business-specific button are pressed during the call, the calling place is identified by the calling party number,
Business-specific call charges (complaint reception for product 1) are charged based on the call time. At this time, the NTT billing unit is charged a company-specific call fee, but not a business-specific call fee.

In FIG. 11, the plurality of business contents are divided into the same incoming number or the plurality of business contents at the receiving destination when the call charge receiver payment service is implemented by the same call for each of the plurality of business contents. When charging, P
A business type is defined for the button of the subscriber A of the BX. When the public caller B dials the toll free number 0120-XXX-XXX2, the called party A judges the contents of the call and presses the billing request button and the business type button.

When the content of the call with the caller B changes, the callee A determines the content of the call and presses the corresponding service type button.
Thereafter, the called party A operates the button each time the call content changes.
The calling place is identified by the number of the caller B, and the call charge is divided according to the business based on the call time and charged. (Divided billing is possible for each of a plurality of business contents in one call.) In FIG. 12, when a plurality of business contents are performed by the same number or a plurality of business contents are performed by the same call, a plurality of business contents are transmitted by a caller. In the case of split billing for each business content,
The business type is defined in advance for the button of the subscriber C of the PBX. When the caller C dials 03-XXXX-XXXX to the public network, the caller C determines the contents of the call and presses the billing request button and the business type button during the call in response to the callee D.

If the content of the call with the called party D changes, the caller C determines the content of the call and presses the corresponding service type button.
Thereafter, each time the content of the call changes, the caller C operates the button.
The destination is identified by the dialed number, and the call charge is divided according to the business based on the call time and charged. (Divided billing is possible for multiple business contents in one call)

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to charge for each business content at the destination receiving the call charge receiver service, or to perform a plurality of businesses for each department. In the case of a centralized source or destination, or a source or destination that is performing a plurality of business contents in the same call, the call charges are accurately divided for each business content and charged. This has the effect of making it possible to improve the efficiency of the telephone business in a company.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a processing flowchart of a method.

FIG. 4 is an example of a processing flowchart of a system.

FIG. 5 is an example of a processing flowchart of a system (part 1);

FIG. 6 is an example of a processing flowchart of a method (part 2);

FIG. 7 is an example of a processing flowchart of a system (part 1);

FIG. 8 is an example of a processing flowchart of a system (part 2);

FIG. 9 is an example of a connection configuration sequence diagram of the system.

FIG. 10 is an example of a connection configuration sequence diagram of the system.

FIG. 11 is an example of a connection configuration sequence diagram of the system.

FIG. 12 is an example of a connection configuration sequence diagram of the system.

[Description of Signs] 1 Electronic exchange 2 Public network 3 Extension callee A 4 Extension caller C 5 Public caller B 6 Public callee D 7 Communication network 8 Central control device 9 Storage device 11 Caller number reception unit 12 Billing Control unit 13 Business type registration receiving unit 14 Chargeable business type receiving unit 15 Called number corresponding business type registration table 16 Subscriber button corresponding business type registration table 17 Charging index registration table 18 Call call corresponding charging information table 19 Business type corresponding charging information Table 20 Secondary link 21 Corporate system 22 NTT public network 23 NTT billing section 24 Public subscriber 25 PBX 26 Extension subscriber 27 Business content definition section 28 PBX billing section 29 Multifunctional telephone button section

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-9-18612 (JP, A) JP-A-7-327096 (JP, A) JP-A-6-276316 (JP, A) JP-A-6-70065 (JP) JP-A-3-106164 (JP, A) JP-A-4-200154 (JP, A) JP-A-2-174358 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H04M 15/08 H04M 15/00 H04M 15/34

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Using a call charge receiver service
Incoming connection from the public caller to the extension receiver of the private branch exchange,
The caller's number is notified to the called party,
A billing control system for billing by paying a subscriber , wherein a central control unit of the private branch exchange is notified by a public caller.
Caller number reception unit that accepts the number of the caller
Used from known caller number and measured call duration
Billing control unit that calculates
A service type registration receiving unit for receiving a record, and the storage device of the private branch exchange has a service type corresponding to the called number.
Number registration business type registration table that records the contents that manage the
And the contents to manage the billing information for the area code
Manage billing index registration table to record and manage billing information for telephone calls
A call information table for recording the contents
Business type that records the contents of managing the billing information corresponding to the business type
A billing control system having a separate correspondence billing table, wherein billing is performed for each business content at a called party. 2. Use of the call charge receiver service
Incoming connection from the public caller to the extension receiver of the private branch exchange,
The caller's number is notified to the called party,
A billing control system for billing by paying a subscriber , wherein a central control unit of the private branch exchange is notified by a public caller.
Caller number reception unit that accepts the number of the caller
Used from known caller number and measured call duration
Billing control unit that calculates
A service type registration reception unit for receiving records, and the central control unit of the private branch exchange has a
Accepts a billing request from the calling subscriber and
A chargeable business type receiving unit that receives input of business type
The private branch exchange storage device has a button number of a subscriber telephone set.
Supports subscriber buttons that record the content that manages business types
Manage business type registration table and billing information for area / city area codes
Manage billing index registration table and manage billing information for telephone calls
A call information table for recording the contents
Business type that records the contents of managing the billing information corresponding to the business type
A billing control system having a separate correspondence billing table, wherein billing is performed for each business content at a called party. 3. The charging control system according to claim 2, wherein
And switch the business type to another business type during the same call
A charge control system , comprising: a service type switching unit for receiving a call;