JPH0454057A - Telephone exchange system capable of called party imposition control - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a called subscriber to make charge imposition control during talking by providing a charge imposition index revision means and a talking charge transfer means to the system. CONSTITUTION:When a revision request of a charging index of a call in talking takes place in an information service center 6, a charge index revision request command is sent to a charge control addition node 1 by a PB signal. A PB signal receiver (1-3) connects a line interface 1(1-6) and a voice reply device (1-2) and a line interface 2(1-6)A and the PB signal receiver (1-3) to receive the information required for revising the charge index. When a request of charge transfer takes place, a charge transfer request command is sent to the charge control addition node 1 in terms of a PB signal. The PB signal receiver (1-3) receives the information required for charge transfer.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a telephone switching system that connects a calling subscriber and a called subscriber and charges the calling subscriber. This invention relates to a telephone exchange system that allows changing the index of .

(Prior art) In a conventional telephone switching system, once an incoming call selection signal is received and a charging index for the call is determined, whether it is information charge collection or a normal call. Well, the billing index was configured to remain constant after the call started until the call ended. In addition, the system was configured to charge either the caller or the called party in an amount equivalent to the call fee.

Here, I will explain the collection of information fees on your behalf (.

For example, assume that there is an information provider that provides information through a telephone service, and a person who wants to receive information calls the information provider as a caller and receives the information. At this time, the telephone company charges the caller (the person receiving the information) an information provision fee in addition to the normal telephone charge for the call, according to the contract with the information provider. If the billing amount is later divided between the telephone company and the information provider, the telephone company can be said to be the information fee collector. Even in the case of information fee collection on behalf of this type,
Once a billing index was determined by adding an information provision fee to the regular telephone charge, the billing index remained constant until the end of the call.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] For this reason, for example, in the case of a call in which information is provided by collecting information charges on behalf of the user, depending on the quality of the information searched by the calling subscriber receiving the information, the calling subscriber may Even if the (information provider) wants to change the information provision fee, they are unable to do so, and in order to obtain information with a different information provision fee,
It was necessary to make an outgoing connection to a selected number with a different charging index and receive information from there. Also,
The receiving subscriber providing information also had to set up a line with a different charging index depending on the information provision fee he wanted to collect.

Furthermore, when a caller becomes a survey respondent and answers a questionnaire to the researcher (receiver), such as in a telephone survey, the recipient receives a reward for providing the information from the caller to the caller. Even if they wanted to pay in the form of negative charges, they were unable to do so, and this has hindered the expansion of opportunities to provide new services.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. For example, when the caller is the party receiving information and the recipient is the information provider, it is possible to provide high-quality information that will be required thereafter depending on the course of the call. On the other hand, it is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone exchange system in which the called party (information provider) can freely change the charging index so that the charging index corresponds to the charging index.

In addition, as seen in the example of a questionnaire survey, if the caller becomes a questionnaire respondent and answers the caller, who is the called party, the caller (questionnaire respondent) would normally be charged for the call. On the other hand, the recipient (researcher) will have to bear the charges, and in some cases, the recipient (researcher) may even charge the sender (survey respondent) a negative charge ( It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone exchange system that makes it possible to charge additional charges instead of charging charges.

[Means to solve the problem]

To achieve the above object, the present invention receives a selection signal from a calling subscriber, establishes a path with the called subscriber based on the received signal, determines the charging index during the call, and selects the called subscriber. The telephone exchange system connects the originating subscriber and the terminating subscriber when a call is made and receives a response signal therefrom, and starts charging the calling subscriber for the call using the index, which is equipped with charging index changing means. Furthermore, the telephone exchange system is equipped with a call charge transfer means.

[Effect]

In a telephone exchange system, when a control signal is received from a called subscriber to the effect that a charging index imposed on a calling subscriber is desired to be changed after a call is started, a charging index changing means changes the charging index accordingly. .

In addition, when a control signal is received from the terminating subscriber to the effect that a certain fixed amount is to be reduced from the call charge charged to the calling subscriber, and the corresponding fixed amount is to be transferred to the terminating subscriber's charge, the control signal is sent accordingly. Then, the call charge transfer means transfers the call charge.

In addition, a certain fixed amount will be deducted from the call charge levied by the calling subscriber to the calling subscriber, and the equivalent fixed amount and the total amount of the call charge required for the call will be treated as the charge on the called subscriber's side. When receiving a control signal indicating that a transfer is desired, the call charge transfer means transfers the call charge accordingly.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a case where functions necessary for the present invention are integrated and provided in an additional node installed in a telephone network.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an additional charging control node, which is routed by a special number dialed by the subscriber. −
As an example, it is composed of blocks (1-1) to ()-6) as described below.

(1-1) is a switch that connects a telephone network line, a voice response device (1-2), a PB signal receiving device (1-3), etc. according to instructions from a control unit (1-4). It is. (1-2) is a voice response device, and a control unit (1-4)
Sends guidance to users according to instructions. (1
-3) is a PB signal receiving device, which receives the PB double signal according to instructions from the control unit (14) and sends the result to the control unit (1-4).
Return to. (1-4) is a control unit that controls the billing control additional node 1.

(1-5) is an interface device with the common line signal network 7, which transmits and receives signals with other nodes, exchanges, etc. according to instructions from the control section (1-4). (1-6).

(1-6) A is a line interface, which is an interface between various lines of the telephone network.

2.2A is a telephone exchange, 3.3A is a charge memory, which is a device for storing subscriber charge information, and 4.4A is a common line interface, which is an interface device with the common line signal network 7 in a switching node (exchange). 5 is a telephone subscriber, 6 is an information providing center, and 7 is a common signal network.

Next, the operation sequence will be explained.

■The information provider (center 6) registers the called side billing control service in advance, and connects the billing control node to the service before starting the service.
, and set the necessary information (your ID, password, change billing index level, etc.). The set information is stored in the control unit (1-4) of the billing control additional node 1.

■The exchange 2 receives a selection signal (special number 1 telephone number of the information provision center 6) from the subscriber (person who wishes to receive information) 5, and the billing control node 1 and the destination exchange 2A A path between the subscriber 5 and the information providing center 6 is established via the .

- After the information providing center 6 responds, it registers the charge memo IJ 3 on the subscriber side using a predetermined fixed charge index.

■At the billing control additional node 1, from the information providing center 6 to P
In order to receive the B-fold signal when it is sent, the line interface (1-6) is connected via the switch (1-1).
), the line interface 2 (1-6)A, and the PB signal receiving device (1-3).

(2) When a request to change the charging index during a call occurs at the information providing center 6, a request command for changing the charging index is sent to the charging control additional node 1 from the PB double signal.

■When the PB signal receiving device (1-3) receives the above command, line interface 1 (1-6), voice response device (1-2), line interface 2 (1-6) A and PB
A signal receiving device (1-3) is connected to receive information necessary for changing the charging index (information provider's ID, password, changed charging index level, etc.).

■The control unit (1-4) controls the common line interface (1-5), the common line signal network 7, and the exchange 2 based on the received information.
A request for changing to a new charge index is sent to the caller's charge memory 3 via the common line interface 4 of the caller.

(2) When a confirmation signal indicating that the request has been accepted is received from the charge memory 3 on the caller's side, the connection state of (2) is restored and preparations are made for the next change request.

In the example of charge transfer, the operation sequence from point ① above is as follows.

■° When the information providing center 6 receives a charge transfer request, it sends a charge transfer request command to the charging control additional node 1 from the PB double signal.

■' PB signal receiver? ! When (1-3) receives the above command, line interface 1 (1-6), voice response device ff (1-2), and line interface 2 (1-6)
6) Connect A and the PB signal receiving device (1-3) and receive the information necessary for charge transfer (information provider's ID, PIN number, frequency subtracted from caller 5 and frequency added to information providing center 6, etc.) ).

■Based on the received information, the control unit (1-4) controls the common line interface (1-5) and the common line signal 1i! 7. Sends a request to subtract a certain number of degrees from the caller 5 to the caller side memory 3 via the common line interface 4 of the exchange 2, and also sends a request to the caller side memory 3 to subtract a certain number of degrees from the caller 5.
5) A request to add a certain frequency to the center 6 is sent to the center side fee memory 3A via the common line signal network 7 and the common line interface 4A of the two exchanges.

(2) Request reception is performed after the input confirmation signal is exchanged between the common line interface 4.4A and the control unit (to I), and then the connection state of (2) is returned to prepare for future service requests.

Furthermore, if the information provision center 6 wants to bear the frequency fee for the call, the caller 5 at the time of setting up the call in
The charging control additional node 1 receives and stores the ID number, and when the charging control additional node 1 receives the call end signal, the control unit (1-4) transmits the common line based on the stored ID information. A transmission request and a subtraction request for the call charge information to the caller 5 are sent to the caller side charge memory 3 via the interface (1-5), the common line signal network 7, and the common line interface 4, and the center side A request to add the frequency fee will be sent to the fee memory 3A.

Normally, in charge transfer, control information is sent and received just before the end of the call, so there is also a method of performing the control described in ■° all at once when the information is sent and received at the end of the call.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a method of deploying additional nodes in the telephone network has been described, but a method of distributing functions to each exchange in the telephone network and a method of sending and receiving control information via the D channel of ISDNm are also possible. , etc., but the basic idea remains that it provides a function to receive billing control information from the called subscriber during a call and a function to perform billing processing for the call based on this information. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible for the receiving subscriber to control billing during a call, which dramatically improves information provision services or information collection operations via telephone lines. The degree of freedom increases.

For example, regarding the Audiotex service, which collects information fees from calling subscribers and provides information from the called party, conventionally only line settings corresponding to a certain charging index could be provided; By controlling the index, information with different charges can be provided at any time based on the wishes of the originating subscriber (user).

In addition, regarding information gathering work, in the past, when conducting telephone questionnaire surveys, the only method available was for the surveyor to randomly select a target and call them and ask them to answer the questions. In terms of compensation, they often asked for the address of the person who answered the question and sent a small gift at a later date. However, if the present invention is used, the respondent to the questionnaire becomes the caller and cooperates with the survey by calling the person. The investigation side (
Since the receiving party (the called party) can pay a reward, there is likely to be an incentive for cooperation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Explanation of symbols 1... Charging control additional node, 2.2A... Exchange,
3.3A...Charge memory, 4,4A...Common line interface, 5...Subscriber telephone, 6...Information provision center, 7...Common line signal network agent Patent attorney Akio Namiki

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) Receive a selection signal from a calling subscriber, set up a path with the called subscriber based on the received signal, determine a charging index during the call, and call the called subscriber. Upon receiving the response signal, connects the calling subscriber and the called subscriber,
In a telephone exchange system that starts charging the calling subscriber using the above-mentioned index, after the call has started, the called subscriber sends a control signal to the effect that the calling subscriber wishes to change the charging index charged to the calling subscriber. 1. A telephone exchange system capable of controlling billing on a called side, characterized in that said telephone exchange system is equipped with a billing index changing means that changes said billing index in accordance with the received billing index. 2) Upon receiving a selection signal from the originating subscriber, establishing a path with the terminating subscriber according to the received signal, determining the charging index during the call, and calling the terminating subscriber and receiving its response signal; , connects the calling subscriber and the called subscriber,
In a telephone exchange system that starts charging call charges to the calling subscriber using the above-mentioned index, the calling subscriber deducts a certain amount from the call charge charged to the calling subscriber, and a fixed amount equivalent to that amount is deducted from the call charge charged to the calling subscriber. This telephone exchange system is capable of controlling charging on the called side, characterized in that it is equipped with a call charge transfer means that transfers the call charge accordingly when a control signal indicating that the call fee is to be transferred as the call charge on the called subscriber side is received. 3) Upon receiving a selection signal from the originating subscriber, establishing a path with the terminating subscriber according to the received signal, determining the charging index during the call, and calling the terminating subscriber and receiving its response signal; , connects the calling subscriber and the called subscriber,
In a telephone exchange system that starts charging call charges to the calling subscriber using the above-mentioned index, the calling subscriber deducts a certain amount from the call charge charged to the calling subscriber, and a fixed amount equivalent to that amount is deducted from the call charge charged to the calling subscriber. and a call charge transfer means that transfers the call charge in response to a control signal indicating that the total amount of the call charge required for the call is to be transferred as the callee's charge. Telephone switching system that can control call-side billing.