JP6564680B2 - Communication management device and relay terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for imposing a communication fee according to use of a network to a relay terminal that connects a connected external communication device to the network according to a fee structure.

  A user of a network (for example, a mobile communication network) operated by a telecommunications carrier signs a contract for using the network with the telecommunications carrier and pays a communication fee according to a predetermined fee structure (rate plan). As a charge system for communication charges, for example, fixed charges or pay-as-you-go charges according to the amount of communication are known. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that each of a plurality of devices connected to the same network has a different charge system. Specifically, Patent Document 1 monitors a data communication of a plurality of network devices connected to a router of an in-house system, aggregates the amount of data for each source, and stores a communication unit price for each source. It is disclosed that the communication charge imposed on each network device is calculated based on the table. Patent Document 2 selects a charge system with a discount applied or a charge system with no discount applied as a charge system for a sender based on a table that defines a charge system corresponding to a combination of a sender and a communication destination. Is disclosed.

JP 2003-8572 A International Publication No. 2001/91388

  As a charge system for communication charges, there is a charge system called a share plan in which communication charges are shared by a plurality of communication devices used by a plurality of people such as family members. In this share plan, for example, the communication amount in a unit period (for example, for one month) is shared by a plurality of communication devices, or the communication fee is determined according to the total communication amount of the plurality of devices.

  When multiple communication devices that share communication charges include communication devices that do not have a function for connecting to a network, unlike smartphones, etc., a relay for connecting these communication devices to the network For example, it is conceivable to provide a terminal from a communication carrier to a user. In this case, considering the convenience of connection between the relay terminal and the communication device, it is desirable that the relay terminal corresponds to a highly versatile connection standard.

However, when this relay terminal is made compatible with a highly versatile connection standard, it can be connected to a communication device that is not subject to the share plan. In this case, the use of the relay terminal for purposes other than the purpose that the share plan is also applied to communication performed by a communication device that is not subject to the share plan becomes a problem. For example, in the share plan, the communication fee for each communication device is set lower than the normal fee structure, and the communication fee for communication devices that are not subject to the share plan is unreasonably cheap. there is a possibility.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is applied to communication performed by a predetermined communication device when a communication fee according to the use of the network is imposed on a relay terminal that relays communication between the network and an external communication device. It is to prevent the communication fee structure to be applied for communication performed by other communication devices.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the communication management device according to the present invention imposes a communication fee on the relay terminal according to the use of the network, which is performed by a relay terminal that relays communication between the network and an external communication device. A communication management apparatus for managing communication, wherein a database in which identification information according to a predetermined communication device is registered and the identification information according to a communication device connected to the relay terminal are acquired from the relay terminal. An acquisition unit, a determination unit that compares the identification information acquired from the relay terminal with the database and determines whether the predetermined communication device is connected to the relay terminal, and the predetermined communication device A communication management unit for notifying that the relay terminal is allowed to perform communication applying the first fee structure of the communication fee when it is determined that the relay terminal is connected; .

In the communication management apparatus of the present invention, the identification information may be identification information assigned to the connected communication device or the relay terminal.
In the communication management device of the present invention, the communication management unit does not permit the relay terminal to perform communication using the network when it is determined that the predetermined communication device is not connected. You may do it.

In the communication management device according to the present invention, when the communication management unit determines that the predetermined communication device is not connected, a second charge different from the first charge system is applied to the relay terminal. It may be permitted to perform communication applying the system.
In the communication management apparatus, the first fee structure is a communication fee fee structure in which a communication amount in a predetermined period is shared among a plurality of communication devices including the predetermined communication device and the second communication device. May be.
Further, the communication management unit, when the application of the second fee system is permitted by the second communication device, performs communication applying the second fee system to the relay terminal. You may allow it.
Further, when the remaining amount up to the upper limit of the communication amount is less than a predetermined amount, the communication management unit sends the communication amount to the relay terminal when communication is permitted by the second communication device. It may be permitted to perform communication based on the above.
Further, when the remaining amount up to the upper limit of the communication amount is less than a predetermined amount, the communication management unit lowers a communication speed of communication performed by the second communication device or performs the communication. You do not have to allow it.

  In the communication management apparatus of the present invention, the communication management device further includes a setting unit that sets a time condition to which the first fee system is applied to the predetermined communication device, and the communication management unit includes the predetermined communication device. When it is determined that the connection is established and the set time condition is satisfied, the relay terminal may be permitted to perform communication applying the first fee system.

  The relay terminal of the present invention is a relay terminal that relays communication between a network and an external communication device, and a transmission unit that transmits identification information corresponding to the communication device connected to the relay terminal to the network; Based on the transmitted identification information, if a permission notice is received from the network that permits a communication fee according to the use of the network to be imposed on the relay terminal according to a predetermined fee structure, And a communication control unit that performs communication to which the charge system is applied.

  According to the present invention, when a communication fee according to the use of the network is imposed on a relay terminal that relays communication between the network and an external communication device, the communication terminal performs communication performed by a predetermined communication device. It is possible to prevent the charge structure of the communication charge to be applied for communication performed by other communication devices.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the switching device which concerns on the same embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the database with which the exchange which concerns on the embodiment is provided. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the relay terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the home gateway which concerns on the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the radio | wireless terminal apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the exchange and relay terminal which concern on the same embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the basic operation | movement of the communication system which concerns on the embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the operation example 1-1 in the embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the operation example 1-2 in the embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the operation example 2-1 in the embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the operation example 2-2 in the embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of the operation example 3 in the same embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the apparatus management table which concerns on the modification 1 of this invention. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of operation | movement of the communication system which concerns on the modification. The figure which shows the structural example of the terminal management table which concerns on the modification 2 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the exchange and relay terminal which concern on the modification. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of operation | movement of the communication system which concerns on the modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 includes a network 1, a plurality of exchanges 10, a plurality of base stations 2, a relay terminal 20, a home gateway 30, and wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B.
In FIG. 1, only one exchange 10 is shown and only two base stations 2 connected to the exchange 10 are shown in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated.

Each of the relay terminal 20, the home gateway 30, and the wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B illustrated in FIG. 1 is a contractor X who has concluded a contract for using the network 1 with a communication carrier that operates the network 1, or a relationship thereof. Used by a contractor (for example, a family of the contractor X, or a person belonging to the contractor X if it is a corporation). In the present embodiment, a user who uses the wireless terminal device 40A is referred to as “user A”, and a user who uses the wireless terminal device 40B is referred to as “user B”. For example, the user A is the contractor X himself and the user B is a child of the contractor X (user A).
In addition, when not distinguishing each of wireless terminal device 40A, 40, these are named generically "wireless terminal device 40". Further, although the communication system 100 includes communication devices of contractors other than the contractor X, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

The network 1 is a network (communication line) on which a communication fee is imposed, and is a core network that realizes a circuit switching function and a packet switching function based on, for example, 3G standards. The network 1 connects a plurality of exchanges 10 to each other. The exchange 10 realizes a circuit exchange function and a packet exchange function in response to a request from a communication device located in a wireless communication area covered by the base station 2 connected to the exchange 10. The base station 2 is a large number of wireless base stations installed in the communication service area of the network 1 and communicates (wireless communication) with communication devices located in the cell of the own station.
Note that the network 1 does not necessarily conform to the 3G standard, and may be a network based on another standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution).

  The relay terminal 20 is a relay terminal that relays communication between the network 1 and the home gateway 30. In this embodiment, the relay terminal 20 is communicably connected to the home gateway 30 according to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard. The home gateway 30 is a communication device (first communication device) that does not have a function of connecting to the network 1. The home gateway 30 realizes a function of monitoring a predetermined place such as the home of the contractor X, and allows the monitored content to be confirmed from an external communication device via the relay terminal 20. The wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B are portable wireless terminal devices, and are smartphones or tablet terminals in this embodiment. The wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B are connected to the base station 2 by wireless communication and perform communication using the network 1.

The relay terminal 20, the home gateway 30, and the wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B are communication devices to which the share plan is applied. This share plan is a fee structure (first fee structure) in which a communication fee and a communication amount corresponding to use of the network 1 in a predetermined period (for example, one month) are shared by a plurality of communication devices. This communication fee is a fee imposed on the relay terminal 20 and is a fee to be paid by the contractor X who owns the relay terminal 20. For example, the telecommunications carrier uses the home gateway 30 and the relay terminal 20 by allowing a contractor X who uses a fee structure that shares a communication fee among a plurality of wireless terminal devices 40 to pay a predetermined additional fee. Provide the service that was.
A PC (Personal Computer) 50 and a TV (Television) 60 shown in FIG. 1 are communication devices that are owned by the contractor X and do not have a function of connecting to the network 1. The PC 50 and the TV 60 can be connected to the relay terminal 20 according to the USB standard, but here are communication devices that are not subject to the share plan.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the exchange 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the exchange 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a database 13.
The control unit 11 includes a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM) as an arithmetic processing unit. The CPU controls each unit of the exchange 10 by reading a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing it. The control unit 11 realizes a subscriber line connection function, a relay line control function, a management function including calculation of a communication fee and a communication amount, and functions as a communication management apparatus that manages the communication performed by the relay terminal 20 using the exchange 10. Let

The communication unit 12 realizes a communication function for transmitting and receiving various types of information to and from the base station 2 connected to the exchange 10 and other exchanges 10 connected to the network 1. The communication unit 12 communicates with the relay terminal 20 via the base station 2 connected to the exchange 10.
The database 13 is a database realized using a storage device such as a hard disk device. Specifically, the database 13 stores a device management table 131 and a share plan management table 132.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the database 13. 3A shows a configuration example of the device management table 131, and FIG. 3B shows a configuration example of the share plan management table 132.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the device management table 131 is a table in which device IDs that uniquely identify the home gateway 30 assigned to the home gateway 30 included in the communication system 100 are registered. In this embodiment, the device ID of the home gateway 30 used for the contractor X is “00-01-FE-01-00-03”.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the share plan management table 132 is a table in which information of communication devices to which the share plan is applied is registered for each contractor. Specifically, in the share plan management table 132, the contractor information, the telephone number, the main contract bit, and the traffic (upper limit) are associated with each other.
The contractor information is information that uniquely identifies each contractor. The telephone number is a telephone number assigned to each communication device to which the share plan is applied. In the present embodiment, “090-AAAAA-AAA” is assigned to the wireless terminal device 40A, “090-BBBB-BBBB” is assigned to the relay terminal 20, and “090-CCCC-CCC” is assigned to the wireless terminal device 40B. Yes. The main contract bit is data for identifying whether or not each communication device is a communication device of a main contract (parent line contract). In the present embodiment, the wireless terminal device 40A is a communication device (second communication device) with a main contract, and the main contract bit is “1”. The relay terminal 20 and the wireless terminal device 40B are communication devices that are not main contracts, and the main contract bit is “0”. The communication amount is a total communication amount of communication performed by each communication device using the network 1 during a predetermined period (for example, one month). In the share plan of this embodiment, the upper limit of the communication amount in a predetermined period is set to 10 gigabytes, and the share plan management table 132 is associated with the communication amount of the wireless terminal device 40A of the main contract. When the total communication amount of the relay terminal 20 and the wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B reaches this upper limit, these communication devices are not permitted to perform communication using the network 1 or communication is restricted. Is done.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the relay terminal 20. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the relay terminal 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a USB controller 23, and a USB connector 24.
The control unit 21 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM as an arithmetic processing unit. The CPU controls each unit of the relay terminal 20 by reading the program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing it. Further, the control unit 21 stores a terminal ID that uniquely identifies the relay terminal 20 and a telephone number of the relay terminal 20. The terminal ID here is IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) and is assigned to the relay terminal 20. The communication unit 22 implements a communication function for connecting to the network 1 and performing wireless communication. The USB controller 23 transmits / receives data to / from an external communication device connected via the USB connector 24. The USB connector 24 is a connection unit that is physically connected (that is, attached) to a USB port of an external communication device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the home gateway 30. As shown in FIG. 5, the home gateway 30 includes a control unit 31, a sensor unit 32, a USB controller 33, and a USB port 34.
The control unit 31 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM as an arithmetic processing device. The CPU controls each unit of the home gateway 30 by reading the program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing it. Further, the control unit 31 stores a device ID assigned to the home gateway 30. The device ID is, for example, the serial number of the home gateway 30. The sensor unit 32 includes, for example, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and a sensor that detects a surrounding situation such as a human sensor such as an infrared sensor. The USB controller 33 transmits / receives data to / from an external communication device connected to the USB port 34. The USB port 34 is a connection unit that is attached to a USB connector of an external communication device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the wireless terminal device 40. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wireless terminal device 40 includes a control unit 41, a UI (User Interface) unit 42, a communication unit 43, and a storage unit 44.
The control unit 41 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, and RAM as an arithmetic processing unit. The CPU controls each unit of the wireless terminal device 40 by reading the program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 44 into the RAM and executing it. The UI unit 42 is a display device that employs, for example, a touch screen, and includes a display unit that displays an image and a user interface that includes an operation unit that receives a user operation using the touch screen. The communication unit 43 implements a communication function for connecting to the network 1 for communication. The storage unit 44 includes a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) or a flash memory, and stores an OS (Operating System) and various application programs operating on the OS.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the exchange 10 and the relay terminal 20.
The control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 implements functions corresponding to the acquisition unit 211, the transmission unit 212, and the communication control unit 213 by executing a program.
The acquisition unit 211 acquires a device ID from the communication device connected to the USB connector 24 via the USB controller 23. The transmission unit 212 transmits the device ID acquired by the acquisition unit 211 to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 22. The communication control unit 213 applies the share plan using the network 1 via the communication unit 22 when the communication device connected to the USB connector 24 is determined as the application target of the share plan in the exchange 10. To communicate. Specifically, the communication control unit 213 receives a permission notification from the network 1 that permits communication for which a communication fee is imposed on the relay terminal 20 according to the share plan, based on the device ID transmitted by the transmission unit 212. When received via the unit 22, this communication is performed.

The control unit 11 of the exchange 10 realizes functions corresponding to the acquisition unit 111, the determination unit 112, the communication management unit 113, the inquiry unit 114, and the reception unit 115 by executing a program. Note that the “setting unit 116” illustrated in FIG. 7 is a function related to Modification 1 described later.
The acquisition unit 111 acquires the device ID transmitted by the transmission unit 212 via the communication unit 12.
The determination unit 112 compares the device ID acquired by the acquisition unit 111 with the device management table 131 of the database 13, and the communication device (that is, the home gateway 30) to which the share plan is applied is connected to the relay terminal 20. It is determined whether or not.

  The communication management unit 113 manages communication performed by the relay terminal 20 using the network 1. If the determination unit 112 determines that a communication device to which the share plan is to be applied is connected to the relay terminal 20, the communication management unit 113 performs communication with which the communication fee is imposed on the relay terminal 20 according to the share plan. Allow that. This permission is performed by transmitting a permission notice permitting communication using the share plan. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication device to which the share plan is applied is not connected to the relay terminal 20, the communication management unit 113 performs communication using the share plan to the relay terminal 20. not allowed.

The inquiry unit 114 inquires of the wireless terminal device 40 via the communication unit 12 about whether communication using the network 1 by other communication devices is possible.
The accepting unit 115 accepts a response to the inquiry from the inquiry unit 114 from the wireless terminal device 40 via the communication unit 12.
The communication management unit 113 manages the availability of communication using the network 1 by other communication devices in accordance with the response received by the reception unit 115.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
<Basic Operation of Communication System 100>
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of basic operations of the communication system 100. Prior to the operation described below, the information described in FIG. 3B is registered in the share plan management table 132, and the device ID of the home gateway 30 used by the contractor X is registered in the device management table 131. It shall not be.
When the USB connector 24 of the relay terminal 20 is attached to the USB port 34 of the home gateway 30 (step S1), the control unit 31 of the home gateway 30 determines whether or not it is the first attachment (step S2). When it is determined that the relay terminal 20 has not been mounted so far, the control unit 31 determines that the relay terminal 20 is mounted for the first time (step S2; YES). When it determines with "YES" at step S2, the control part 31 transmits the registration request of the own apparatus ID to the relay terminal 20 via the USB controller 33 (step S3). This registration request includes “00-01-FE-01-00-03” as the device ID.

When the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 receives the device ID registration request from the home gateway 30 via the USB controller 23, the control unit 21 sends the registration request including the device ID and the telephone number of the relay terminal 20 to the communication unit 22. Is transmitted to the exchange 10 (step S4). When receiving the registration request via the communication unit 12, the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 registers the received registration request device ID in the device management table 131 of the database 13 (step S5). By the processing in step S5, the device management table 131 has the configuration described in FIG.
The control unit 11 determines which communication devices have a share plan based on a telephone number included in a registration request or a connection request described later.

  When the registration of the device ID is completed, the control unit 11 transmits a registration completion notification to the relay terminal 20 via the communication unit 12 (step S6). The control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 transmits the completion notification received via the communication unit 22 to the home gateway 30 via the USB controller 23 (step S7). When the control unit 31 of the home gateway 30 notifies the completion, it stores that the device ID of its own device has been registered.

If the USB connector 24 of the relay terminal 20 is attached to the USB port 34 of the home gateway 30 in step S1, and it is determined in step S2 that it is not the first attachment (step S2; NO), the control unit of the home gateway 30 31 advances to the process of step S8. After storing that the device ID of the own device has been registered in response to the completion notification, the control unit 31 determines “NO” in step S2.
Next, the control unit 31 transmits a connection request including its own device ID to the relay terminal 20 via the USB controller 33 (step S8).

  When the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 receives the connection request including the device ID from the home gateway 30 via the USB controller 23, the control unit 21 sends the connection request including the device ID and the telephone number of the relay terminal 20 to the communication unit 22. Then, the data is transmitted to the exchange 10 (step S9). When receiving the connection request via the communication unit 12, the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 collates the device ID included in the connection request with the device management table 131 of the database 13 (step S10). Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to permit communication to which the share plan is applied based on the result of collation (step S11).

  Here, the device ID “00-01-FE-01-00-03” included in the connection request is registered in the device management table 131. In this case, the control unit 11 determines to permit communication using the share plan (step S11; YES), and notifies the communication unit 12 that permission is given to permit communication using the share plan. Is transmitted to the relay terminal 20 (step S12). The control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 transmits the received permission notification to the home gateway 30 via the USB controller 23 (step S13). In response to this permission notification, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 start communication to which the share plan is applied (step S14). In this communication, the control unit 11 applies a share plan to the relay terminal 20 to manage the traffic and calculate the communication fee.

The processing after the start of communication between the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 will be described. The control unit 31 of the home gateway 30 transmits data representing the surrounding state detected by the sensor unit 32 to the relay terminal 20. When receiving the data from the home gateway 30, the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 transmits this data to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 22. The control unit 11 of the exchange 10 transmits the data received via the communication unit 12 to the wireless terminal device 40, for example. The control unit 41 of the wireless terminal device 40 displays a captured image on the UI unit 42 based on the received data, or notifies the user of the presence or absence of an abnormality using the UI unit 42.
The basic operation of the communication system 100 has been described above.

By the way, the relay terminal 20 can be connected to a communication device other than the home gateway 30 as long as it is a communication device having a USB port. In this case, the connected communication device does not have a function of transmitting the device ID. Therefore, since the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 does not receive a connection request including the device ID registered in the device management table 131 of the database 13, it determines “NO” in step S11.
If “NO” is determined in step S11, the communication system 100 performs communication using the share plan by the process described in <Operation Example 1-1> or <Operation Example 1-2> described below. Is not allowed.

<Operation example 1-1>
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of the operation example 1-1 executed in the communication system 100.
If the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 determines “NO” in step S11, the control unit 11 transmits a rejection notification to the relay terminal 20 via the communication unit 12 as not permitting communication to which the normal plan is applied ( Step S21). In this case, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 do not start communication for using the network 1.
Also in this case, it is possible to prevent the share plan from being applied when a communication device other than the home gateway 30 is connected.

<Operation example 1-2>
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of the operation example 1-2 executed in the communication system 100.
If the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 determines “NO” in step S11, the wireless terminal device 40 determines whether to communicate by applying a normal plan (second fee structure) that is a fee structure different from the share plan. In order to make an inquiry to any of the above, the wireless terminal device 40 as the inquiry destination is specified (step S31). The normal charge based on the normal plan is imposed on the contractor X separately from the communication charge based on the share plan. That is, by applying this normal plan, the communication fee that the contractor X should pay increases. For this reason, the control unit 11 specifies the wireless terminal device 40A of the main contract as an inquiry destination based on the share plan management table 132.

  Next, the control unit 11 transmits an inquiry message for inquiring whether the normal plan can be applied to the specified wireless terminal device 40A via the communication unit 12 (step S32). This inquiry message is transmitted using, for example, a short message service using a telephone number as transmission destination information. However, other methods (for example, e-mail or a specific application program) may be adopted as the method for transmitting the inquiry message.

  The control unit 41 of the wireless terminal device 40A causes the UI unit 42 to display the inquiry message received from the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S33). For example, the control unit 41 displays a message “Are connected devices that are not subject to the share plan application, which is charged according to the normal plan? Are you sure? (Yes / No)”. Next, the control unit 41 receives an input of a response to this inquiry from the user using the UI unit 42 (step S34). For example, the control unit 41 receives a response from the user A by receiving an operation of inputting either Yes / No. Then, the control unit 41 transmits the response content to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S35). Next, when receiving a response from the wireless terminal device 40A (step S36), the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 determines whether or not to permit communication to which the normal plan is applied (step S37). When it is determined that the control unit 11 has received a response to permit communication using the normal plan (step S37; YES), the control unit 11 permits communication using the normal plan. A permission notice is transmitted to the relay terminal 20 via the communication unit 12 (step S39). In response to this permission notification, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 start communication applying the normal plan (step S40). The operation of the communication system 100 after the permission notification is transmitted may be the same as the basic operation of the communication system 100 except that charging based on the normal plan is involved.

  When it is determined that the control unit 11 has received a response not permitting communication using the normal plan (step S37; NO), the control unit 11 sends a rejection notification as not permitting this communication. It transmits to the relay terminal 20 via the communication part 12 (step S38). In this case, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 do not start communication for using the network 1.

  As described above, even if the communication fee according to the use of the network 1 is imposed on the relay terminal 20 instead of the communication device connected to the relay terminal 20, the communication performed by the home gateway 30 is performed. The share plan to be applied can be prevented from being applied for communication performed by a communication device other than the home gateway 30. If the user wants to use the relay terminal 20 for the purpose of connecting the PC 50 or the TV 60 to the network 1, the user can use the relay terminal 20 by paying a communication fee according to the normal plan. Further, since the application of the normal plan is subject to the permission of the contractor X (user A), the amount of communication is approaching the upper limit in the share plan without the contractor X (user A) knowing. Or the occurrence of a situation in which the communication fee is high is avoided.

Next, <Operation Example 2-1> and <Operation Example 2-2> will be described as operation examples related to communication performed by the relay terminal 20.
<Operation example 2-1>
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of the operation example 2-1 executed in the communication system 100.
When the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 transmits a connection request to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 22 (step S41), the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 that has received this connection request receives the total communication amount of the contractor X. Is determined to be greater than or equal to a threshold value (step S42). Again, the connection request includes a device ID and a telephone number. The threshold value indicates a traffic volume lower than the upper limit of the traffic volume, and is set to a value obtained by multiplying the upper limit value by a predetermined value (for example, 0.8), for example. That is, in step S42, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the remaining amount of communication is less than a predetermined amount.
When it is determined that the total communication amount of the contractor X is less than the threshold (step S42; NO), the control unit 11 notifies the communication unit 12 of permission notification as permitting communication using the share plan. Is transmitted to the relay terminal 20 (step S51). After the transmission of this permission notice, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 start communication to which the share plan is applied (step S52).

When it is determined that the total communication amount of the contractor X is equal to or greater than the threshold (step S42; YES), the control unit 11 specifies the wireless terminal device 40 that is an inquiry destination as to whether or not to communicate by applying the share plan. (Step S43). Here, based on the share plan management table 132, the control unit 11 specifies the wireless terminal device 40A of the main contract as an inquiry destination.
The control unit 11 transmits an inquiry message for inquiring whether or not communication to which the share plan is applied to the specified wireless terminal device 40A via the communication unit 12 (step S44).

  The control unit 41 of the wireless terminal device 40A displays the inquiry message received from the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 by using the UI unit 42 (step S45). For example, the control unit 41 displays a message “Remaining amount of communication amount in the share plan is xx bytes. Do you want to continue communication? (Yes / No)”. Next, the control part 41 receives the input of the response with respect to this inquiry from the user A using the UI part 42 (step S46). For example, the control part 41 receives a user's response by receiving operation which inputs either Yes / No. Then, the control unit 41 transmits the response content to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S47). Next, when receiving the response from the wireless terminal device 40A (step S48), the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 determines whether or not to permit communication to which the share plan is applied (step S49). When it is determined that the control unit 11 has received a response to permit the communication to which the share plan is applied (step S49; YES), the control unit 11 notifies the permission notification that the communication is permitted. It transmits to the relay terminal 20 via the communication part 12 (step S51). Then, after the transmission of this permission notice, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 start communication to which the share plan is applied (step S52).

If the control unit 11 determines that a response indicating that the communication to which the share plan is applied is not permitted is accepted (step S49; NO), the control unit 11 issues a rejection notification as not permitting the communication. Then, the data is transmitted to the relay terminal 20 via the communication unit 12 (step S50). In this case, the relay terminal 20 and the exchange 10 do not start communication for using the network 1.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the remaining amount from decreasing without the contractor X (user A) knowing in a state where the remaining amount of communication is small.

<Operation example 2-2>
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of the operation example 2-2 executed in the communication system 100. Hereinafter, an operation when the wireless terminal device 40B that is not the main contract transmits a connection request to the network 1 to the exchange 10 will be described.
When the control unit 41 of the wireless terminal device 40B transmits a connection request to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S41), the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 that has received this connection request performs a total communication with the contractor X. It is determined whether or not the amount is greater than or equal to a threshold value (step S42).
When it is determined that the total communication amount of the contractor X is less than the threshold value (step S42; NO), the control unit 11 wirelessly sends a permission notification via the communication unit 12 to permit the communication. It transmits to the terminal device 40B (step S54). After the transmission of this permission notice, the wireless terminal device 40B and the exchange 10 start communication to which the share plan is applied (step S55).

When it is determined that the total communication amount of the contractor X is equal to or greater than the threshold (step S42; YES), the control unit 11 applies communication restriction and performs communication using the share plan for the wireless terminal device 40B. This is permitted, or the connection is refused and communication using the network 1 is not permitted (step S53). The communication restriction is, for example, a restriction for setting the communication speed low, but may be any restriction that can expect an effect of suppressing an increase in the communication amount in the wireless terminal device 40B.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the remaining amount from decreasing without the contractor X (user A) knowing in a state where the remaining amount of communication is small.
In this operation example, the control unit 11 restricts communication to the wireless terminal device 40A instead of or in combination with the wireless terminal device 40B when the total communication amount of the contractor X is determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold. Or performing communication using the network 1 may be prohibited. In this case, the wireless terminal device 40A corresponds to the second communication device of the present invention.

Next, management of connection from an external communication device to the home gateway 30 will be described.
<Operation example 3>
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of the operation example 3 executed in the communication system 100.
The control unit 11 of the exchange 10 accepts a connection request to the home gateway 30 from an external communication device via the communication unit 12 (step S61). Next, the control part 11 determines whether it is a connection request | requirement from the communication apparatus to which a share plan is applied (step S62). For example, when the control unit 11 determines that the connection request is from the wireless terminal device 40A or 40B to which the share plan is applied based on the IP address (step S62; YES), the control unit 11 permits the connection to the home gateway 30 ( Step S71). The IP address of the communication device to which the share plan is applied is stored in advance in the exchange 10. The operations related to communication between the wireless terminal device 40 and the home gateway 30 after step S71 may be the same as <basic operation of the communication system 100>.

When the control unit 11 determines that the connection request is from a communication device (third communication device) to which the share plan is not applied (step S62; NO), whether or not to permit the connection is determined by any of the wireless terminal devices 40. In order to make an inquiry, the wireless terminal device 40 that is the inquiry destination is specified (step S63). Here, based on the share plan management table 132, the control unit 11 specifies the wireless terminal device 40A of the main contract as an inquiry destination.
The control unit 11 transmits an inquiry message for inquiring whether or not access to the home gateway 30 is possible to the specified wireless terminal device 40A via the communication unit 12 (step S64).

  The control unit 41 of the wireless terminal device 40A causes the UI unit 42 to display the inquiry message received from the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S65). For example, the control unit 41 displays a message “There was a connection request to the home gateway from the IP address XXX.XXXX.XXXX. Do you want to permit? (Yes / No)”. Next, the control unit 41 receives an input of a response to this inquiry from the user using the UI unit 42 (step S66). For example, the control part 41 receives a user's response by receiving operation which inputs either Yes / No. Then, the control unit 41 transmits the response content to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 43 (step S67). Next, when receiving a response from the wireless terminal device 40A (step S68), the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 determines whether or not to permit access to the home gateway 30 (step S69). If the control unit 11 determines that a response to permit connection to the home gateway 30 has been received (step S69; YES), the control unit 11 permits this connection (step S71).

When it is determined that the control unit 11 has received a response not permitting connection to the home gateway 30 (step S69; NO), the control unit 11 rejects the connection (step S70). Thereby, it can prevent that the information of the home gateway 30 is acquired by the user of wireless terminal devices other than the contractor X.
Instead of this operation example, when the control unit 11 determines that the connection request is not from a communication device to which the share plan is applied (step S62: NO), the home gateway 30 does not make an inquiry to the wireless terminal device 40A. You may refuse to connect to.

[Modification]
The present invention can be implemented in a form different from the above-described embodiment. The present invention can also be implemented in the following forms, for example. Further, the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.
(Modification 1)
The exchange 10 may change the communication device to which the share plan is applied according to time conditions. In this modification, the control unit 11 implements a setting unit 116 in addition to the functions described in FIG. The setting unit 116 sets the time condition of the communication device to which the share plan is applied in the device management table 131A. When it is determined that the share plan application target device is connected and the time condition set by the setting unit 116 is satisfied, the communication management unit 113 permits communication using the share plan.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the device management table 131A of this modification. In the device management table 131A, device IDs are associated with temporal conditions. Here, the time condition is information specified by a time zone (time) and indicates a time zone to which the share plan is applied. The time condition is not limited to time, and may be specified by date, day of the week, or the like.
In FIG. 14, the device ID “PC-X” corresponds to the PC 50, and the device ID “TV-X” corresponds to the TV 60. That is, in this modification, the PC 50 and the TV 60 may be communication devices to which the share plan is applied.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of operations of the communication system 100 according to this modification. Hereinafter, an operation when the home gateway 30 is connected to the relay terminal 20 will be described.
The control unit 11 of the exchange 10 sets a time condition for applying the share plan (step S81). This setting may be performed on the telecommunications carrier side or according to an instruction from the wireless terminal device 40 (for example, the wireless terminal device 40A).

  Thereafter, the control unit 31 of the home gateway 30 transmits a connection request including its own device ID to the relay terminal 20 via the USB controller 33 (step S8). When the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 receives the connection request from the home gateway 30 via the USB controller 23, the control unit 21 sends the connection request including the device ID and the telephone number to the exchange 10 via the communication unit 22. Transmit (step S9).

Next, when receiving the connection request via the communication unit 12, the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 collates the device ID included in the connection request with the device management table 131A of the database 13 (step S10A). Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to permit communication to which the share plan is applied based on the result of collation (step S11A). When the device ID of the connected device is registered in the device management table 131A and the time condition set in association with the device ID is satisfied, the control unit 11 performs communication using the share plan. Allow to do. When it is determined “YES” in step S11A, the control unit 11 transmits a permission notice (steps S12 and S13). On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines “NO” in step S <b> 11 </ b> A, the control unit 11 does not permit communication using the share plan. In this case, the control unit 11 proceeds to the process described with reference to FIG.
Note that the operation when the PC 50 or the TV 60 is connected to the relay terminal 20 can be inferred from the above description, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
According to this modification, by changing the communication device to which the share plan is applied over time according to the actual usage of each communication device by the user, the user can suppress the increase in the communication fee while controlling many communication devices. Can be connected to the network 1.

(Modification 2)
In the embodiment described above, the relay terminal 20 transmits the connection request including the device ID and the telephone number to the exchange 10, but the following modification is also possible. In this modified example, elements having the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment function in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments, and elements having “B” at the end of the reference numerals are the elements described in the above-described embodiments. The function corresponding to is realized.

The control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20B stores a first terminal ID and a second terminal ID as terminal IDs assigned to the relay terminal 20B. The first terminal ID and the second terminal ID are different IMEIs. In the relay terminal 20B, the second terminal ID is valid and the first terminal ID is invalid in normal times. The control unit 31 of the home gateway 30B operates based on a driver dedicated to the home gateway (dedicated driver). This dedicated driver realizes a function of outputting a signal for specifying that the home gateway 30B is an application target of the share plan. This signal is a signal for requesting a change in the relay terminal 20B so that the first terminal ID is valid and the second terminal ID is invalid.
The exchange 10B stores a terminal management table 133 instead of the device management table 131. As shown in FIG. 16, in the terminal management table 133, the first terminal ID that is valid in the relay terminal 20B when the home gateway 30B is connected is registered.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the exchange 10B and the relay terminal 20B according to this modification.
The control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20B realizes functions corresponding to the recognition unit 214, the transmission unit 212B, and the communication control unit 213 by executing a program.
The recognition unit 214 recognizes that the home gateway 30B is connected to the relay terminal 20B. Here, the recognition unit 214 recognizes the connection of the home gateway 30B based on a signal transmitted based on the dedicated driver for the home gateway 30B.
When the recognition unit 214 recognizes the connection of the home gateway 30B, the transmission unit 212B transmits the first terminal ID to the exchange 10B via the communication unit 22. When the recognition unit 214 does not recognize the connection of the home gateway 30B, the transmission unit 212B transmits the second terminal ID to the exchange 10B via the communication unit 22.
Similar to the above-described embodiment, the communication control unit 213 determines whether the share plan is applied via the communication unit 22 when the communication device connected to the USB connector 24 is determined as the share plan application target. I do.

The control unit 11 of the exchange 10B implements functions corresponding to the acquisition unit 111B, the determination unit 112B, the communication management unit 113B, the inquiry unit 114, and the reception unit 115 by executing a program. The inquiry unit 114, the reception unit 115, and the setting unit 116 may have the same functions as already described.
The acquisition unit 111B acquires the terminal ID transmitted by the transmission unit 212B via the communication unit 12. When the home gateway 30B is connected to the relay terminal 20B, the acquisition unit 111B acquires the first terminal ID. On the other hand, when a communication device that is not the home gateway 30B is connected to the relay terminal 20B, the acquisition unit 111B acquires the second terminal ID.

  The determination unit 112B compares the terminal ID acquired by the acquisition unit 111B with the terminal management table 133 of the database 13, and determines whether or not a communication device to which the share plan is applied is connected to the relay terminal 20B. . The determination unit 112B determines that the communication device to which the share plan is applied is connected to the relay terminal 20B when the first terminal ID is acquired, and the relay terminal 20B when the second terminal ID is acquired. It is determined that a communication device that is not subject to the share plan is connected.

  If the determination unit 112B determines that the communication device to which the share plan is applied is connected to the relay terminal 20, the communication management unit 113B performs communication to which the share plan is applied to the relay terminal 20B. Allow. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication device to which the share plan is applied is not connected to the relay terminal 20B, the communication management unit 113B performs communication to which the share plan is applied to the relay terminal 20B. Is not allowed.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an operation flow of the communication system according to this modification.
When the USB connector 24 of the relay terminal 20B is attached to the USB port 34 of the home gateway 30B (step S91), the control unit 31 of the home gateway 30 uses the function of the dedicated driver to make the first terminal with respect to the relay terminal 20B. An ID change request for validating the ID and invalidating the second terminal ID is transmitted (step S92). When receiving the ID change request via the USB controller 23, the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20B recognizes that the home gateway 30B is connected, validates the first terminal ID, and invalidates the second terminal ID. Thus, ID change processing is performed (step S93).

Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20B transmits a connection request including the validated terminal ID and telephone number to the exchange 10B via the communication unit 22 (step S9B). When a connection request is transmitted from the home gateway 30B in step S8B, the control unit 21 transmits the activated first terminal ID and telephone number. When receiving the connection request via the communication unit 12, the control unit 11 of the exchange 10B collates the terminal ID included in the connection request with the terminal management table 133 of the database 13 (step S10B). Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to permit communication to which the share plan is applied based on the result of collation (step S11B). When receiving the first terminal ID, the control unit 11 determines “YES” in Step S11B and transmits a permission notice (Step S12). And the communication which applied the share plan is started in the communication system 100 by the process of step S13, S14.
Also in this modified example, the control part 11 discriminate | determines which communication apparatuses are forming a share plan based on the telephone number contained in a connection request.

When a connection request is transmitted from a device that is not the home gateway 30B in step S8B, the control unit 21 transmits the valid second terminal ID and the telephone number of the relay terminal 20B to the exchange 10B in step S9B. In this case, the control unit 11 determines “NO” in Step S11B. That is, when the control unit 11 receives the second terminal ID, the control unit 11 does not permit communication using the share plan. In this case, the control unit 11 proceeds to the process described with reference to FIG. For example, since a dedicated driver is not installed in communication devices other than the home gateway 30 to which the share plan is not applied, communication devices that are not subject to the share plan cannot transmit the ID change request in step S92. In this case, the relay terminal 20B validates the second terminal ID and transmits a connection request to the exchange 10B. Therefore, the exchange 10B does not permit communication using the share plan.
According to this modification, it is not necessary to register the device management table 131 for specifying the share plan target device in the exchange 10.

(Modification 3)
The wireless terminal device 40 is not limited to two wireless terminal devices 40A and 40B, and may be three or more. In this case, the control unit 11 does not use the wireless terminal device 40A of the main contract as an inquiry destination, but makes an inquiry to any of the wireless terminal devices 40 according to the usage record of communication using the network 1 in each communication device. It may be specified first. For example, the control unit 11 identifies the wireless terminal device 40 with the largest communication amount among the wireless terminal devices 40 to which the share plan is applied. Thereby, it is possible to manage the availability of communication by reflecting the intention of the user who is easily affected by the amount of communication becoming zero. The control unit 11 may specify two or more wireless terminal devices 40 as inquiry destinations. In this case, the control unit 11 may make all wireless terminal devices 40 whose traffic is greater than or equal to the threshold value as inquiry destinations, or may make all wireless terminal devices 40 in the share plan inquiry destinations. Further, the inquiry destination may be specified (set) in advance, for example, instead of the inquiry timing.

(Modification 4)
When calculating the communication amount of communication to which the share plan is applied, the exchange 10 according to the above-described embodiment calculates the communication amount related to data transmission in the relay terminal 20 and the communication amount related to data reception. Instead of this, in the case of communication between communication devices to which the share plan of the same contractor is applied, the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 performs a communication amount related to data transmission in the relay terminal 20 and a communication related to data reception. The communication amount may be calculated so that the communication amount is smaller than the total amount.
For example, the control unit 11 calculates a communication amount related to data transmission and does not calculate a communication amount related to data reception, or calculates a communication amount related to data reception and does not calculate a communication amount related to data transmission. Like that. In addition, the control unit 11 may calculate the total communication amount of the communication amount related to data transmission and the communication amount related to data reception as 1/2. Thereby, in communication between communication devices to which the share plan of the same contractor is applied, it is possible to substantially reduce the traffic.

(Modification 5)
The exchange 10 employs a configuration in which specific data (hereinafter referred to as “additional data”) is added to the communication data in order to determine whether the communication data is communication by a device to which the share plan is applied. Also good. This additional data is added to the header of the packet, for example. In the case of this modification, when transmitting communication data to the exchange 10, the home gateway 30 and the relay terminal 20 transmit including additional data. When the exchange 10 determines that the share plan is to be applied based on the additional data of the received communication data, the exchange 10 transmits the communication data from which the additional data has been removed to the network 1. In addition, when the exchange 10 determines that the communication data received from the network 1 is communication data addressed to a communication device (home gateway 30) to which the share plan is applied, the exchange 10 includes additional data in the communication data, Transmit to the relay terminal 20. When the relay terminal 20 or the home gateway 30 receives the communication data including the additional data, the relay terminal 20 or the home gateway 30 executes a predetermined process based on the communication data, and receives the communication data not including the additional data. This communication data is discarded.

(Modification 6)
When the exchange 10 permits the communication to which the share plan is applied, the exchange 10 may inquire of the wireless terminal device 40A whether or not this communication is possible regardless of the remaining amount of the communication amount shared in the share plan.
In the device management table 131, the device ID may be registered in association with the contractor information. In this case, the exchange 10 permits communication using the share plan on the condition that the home gateway 30 and the relay terminal 20 owned by the same contractor are connected.
The device ID of the device management table 131 described above may be registered in advance on the telecommunications carrier side, for example. In this case, the processing of steps S1 to S7 described above is unnecessary.
Furthermore, regarding the embodiment described above, the relay terminal 20 may transmit a connection request including a device ID to the exchange 10 without including a telephone number. In this case, when the device ID acquired from the relay terminal 20 is registered in the device management table 131, the exchange 10 permits communication using the share plan.
In addition, some of the configurations and operations described in the above-described embodiments may be omitted, and the processing order described in the above-described embodiments may be changed.
In addition, the relay terminal 20 of the above-described embodiment and the relay terminal 20B of the second modification are communication devices to which telephone numbers are assigned by a recording medium (for example, a SIM card) in which subscriber identification information for identifying a subscriber is recorded. May be.

(Modification 7)
The relay terminal of the present invention may be connected to an external communication device according to a connection standard other than USB.
The relay terminal of the present invention may not be a relay terminal physically connected to an external communication device, but may be a relay terminal connected by communication (for example, wireless communication).
The communication management device of the present invention is not limited to an example realized by an exchange. For example, the communication management device of the present invention may be realized by a server device other than the exchange connected to the network 1.
In addition, the home gateway may not be included in the communication device to which the share plan is applied.
The share plan described above may be a fee system that shares a communication fee among a plurality of communication devices. Therefore, the share plan may be a fee structure that is a fixed fee with no upper limit on the communication amount, or may be a pay-per-use charge that increases the communication amount according to the communication amount. Further, the communication amount of the present invention is not specified by the data amount, but may be specified by other use results of the network such as communication time and the number of communication.
The identification information of the present invention is not limited to information assigned to a communication device or a relay terminal. The identification information of the present invention is information for specifying whether or not the share plan can be applied, and may be information that changes according to the communication device connected to the relay terminal.

  The functions realized by the control unit 11 of the exchange 10 and the control unit 21 of the relay terminal 20 according to the above-described embodiment can be realized by a combination of a plurality of programs, or can be realized by linkage of a plurality of hardware resources. When the functions of the control units 11 and 21 are realized using a program, the program can be a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD (Hard Disk Drive), FD (Flexible Disk), etc.)), an optical recording medium. (Such as an optical disk), a magneto-optical recording medium, a semiconductor-readable recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, or the like, or may be distributed via a network. In addition, the present invention may be realized using cloud computing. The present invention can also be grasped as a communication management method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network, 2 ... Base station 10, 10B ... Exchange, 11, 21, 31, 41 ... Control part, 111, 111B ... Acquisition part, 112, 112B ... Determination part, 113, 113B ... Communication management part, 114 ... Inquiry part 115 ... Accepting part 116 ... Setting part 12, 22, 43 ... Communication part 13 ... Database, 131, 131A ... Device management table 132 ... Share plan management table 133 ... Terminal management table 20, 20B ... relay terminal, 211 ... acquisition unit, 212, 212B ... transmission unit, 213 ... communication control unit, 214 ... recognition unit, 23, 33 ... USB controller, 24 ... USB connector, 30, 30B ... home gateway, 32 ... sensor unit 34 ... USB port, 40, 40A, 40B ... wireless terminal device, 42 ... UI unit, 44 ... storage unit, 50 ... PC, 6 ... TV, 100 ... communication system

Claims (10)

A communication management device for managing communication performed by a relay terminal that relays communication between a network and an external communication device, and a communication fee according to use of the network is imposed on the relay terminal,
A database in which identification information corresponding to a predetermined communication device is registered;
An acquisition unit for acquiring the identification information corresponding to the communication device connected to the relay terminal from the relay terminal;
A determination unit that compares the identification information acquired from the relay terminal with the database and determines whether the predetermined communication device is connected to the relay terminal;
A communication management device comprising: a communication management unit that permits the relay terminal to perform communication applying the first fee structure of the communication fee when it is determined that the predetermined communication device is connected. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is identification information assigned to the connected communication device or the relay terminal. The communication management unit
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the predetermined communication device is not connected, the relay terminal is not permitted to perform communication using the network. Communication management device. The communication management unit
When it is determined that the predetermined communication device is not connected, the relay terminal is permitted to perform communication using a second fee structure different from the first fee structure. The communication management device according to claim 1 or 2. The first fee structure is:
The communication management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communication management apparatus is a communication fee structure in which a communication amount in a predetermined period is shared among a plurality of communication devices including the predetermined communication device and the second communication device. . The communication management unit
When the application of the second fee structure is permitted by the second communication device, the relay terminal is permitted to perform communication applying the second fee structure. Item 6. The communication management device according to Item 5. The communication management unit
When the remaining amount up to the upper limit of the communication amount is less than a predetermined amount, communication is performed to the relay terminal based on the communication amount when communication is permitted by the second communication device. The communication management device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein permission is granted. The communication management unit
When the remaining amount up to the upper limit of the communication amount is less than a predetermined amount, the communication speed of the communication performed by the second communication device is lowered or the communication is not permitted. The communication management device according to any one of claims 5 to 7. A setting unit for setting a time condition in which the first fee system is applied to the predetermined communication device;
The communication management unit
When it is determined that the predetermined communication device is connected and the set time condition is satisfied, the relay terminal is permitted to perform communication applying the first fee system. The communication management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication management apparatus is any one of claims 1 to 8. A relay terminal that relays communication between a network and an external communication device,
A transmitting unit that transmits identification information corresponding to a communication device connected to the relay terminal to the network;
Based on the transmitted identification information, if a permission notice is received from the network that permits a communication fee according to the use of the network to be imposed on the relay terminal according to a predetermined fee structure, And a communication control unit that performs communication to which the charge system is applied.

Images